common injuries & conditions

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the following list is only a description of some of the most common injuries and conditions. massage therapists are fully trained in anatomy & physiology but professional restrictions do not allow us to diagnose. if you are unsure about your injury or condition, or have not already received treatment from a qualified medical or other health practitioner, we strongly recommend you first see your GP before booking a massage treatment.

carpal tunnel syndrome
carpal tunnel syndrome is most commonly caused by overuse of the wrist which in turn causes narrowing and inflammation of the tunnel that houses the nerves and tendons that lead from the forearm to the wrist. symptoms can include tenderness, tingling and numbness in the hand and fingers. overuse can be caused by sports such as cycling, where the wrist is used for support, or by office work such as repetitive use of a keyboard or computer mouse.

compartment syndrome
fascia is the network of connective tissue which interlinks all parts of the body. all muscles in the body are contained within their own fascial compartments which give them their shape and structure. compartment syndrome is the collective term given to painful conditions caused by increased pressure inside the different muscle compartments. chronic compartment syndrome generally occurs through overtraining where the muscle expands during exercise due to increased blood flow and is compressed by the inelastic fascia which surrounds it. it is most common in the lower leg where it can occur at the front, back or on either side

fibromyalgia
a chronic condition which causes pain in muscle tissues without any inflammation. other symptoms include general aching and stiffness, fatigue, headaches, numbness and tingling. fibromyalgia can be triggered by anxiety, stress, poor sleep patterns and overuse of muscles.

frozen shoulder
the common term for adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder is a chronic painful stiffness in the shoulder joint. this may be the result of an injury, or may gradually develop through overuse of the muscles of the shoulder, or sometimes for no apparent reason.

general muscle soreness
all muscles can go into spasm or become tight due to a sudden increase in exercise or activity that the body is not used to (eg the first bout of spring gardening). the spasm or tightness causes increased pain and possible reduction in power in that muscle. muscle spasms can also be aggravated by stimulants (eg caffeine), some medications, emotional stress etc. although rest usually helps to reduce muscle pain from spasm or tightness, without additional treatment such as massage the simple activities of daily life will cause it to reappear.

golfers elbow
the common term for medial epicondylitis, this is a painful inflammation of one of the tendons at the elbow caused by overuse of the forearm muscles. it is similar to tennis elbow, the only difference being the location of the tendon affected. as with tennis elbow, only 5% of people suffering have developing their injury from playing golf. golfers elbow can also be caused by playing any racquet sport or by carrying out repetitive one-sided movements in a job (eg carpenter) or leisure activity (eg gardening). some people may suffer from both tennis and golfers elbow simultaneously.

headaches & migraines
there are many causes of headaches and migraines. one common cause is stress which causes muscle tension, particularly in the neck, head and shoulders which in turn can produce a pattern of chronic headaches and migraines.

lumbago (lower back pain)
lumbago, or lower back pain, often has no specific cause and is defined as pain and stiffness in the lower back region either on lifting or twisting, but sometimes for no reason. it can also indicate a weak back, or lumbar insufficiency, which is due to incorrect technique (in sports) or poor posture.

neck & back pain
neck and lower back pain in particular are very common chronic conditions which are often caused by our sedentary lifestyle. working long hours on computers, driving and sitting down for extended periods of time can all contribute to general and non-specific aches and pains in the neck and shoulders and/or lower back and hips.

patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS)
this is a general term for pain felt under the front of the patella, or kneecap. this pain is often chronic and is particularly aggravated by activities such as jumping, or even just going up and down stairs. PFPS can be caused by misalignment of the knee joint or muscle imbalances which prevent the patella from moving smoothly over the knee joint.

piriformis syndrome
the piriformis is a deep muscle which helps in rotation of the hip. the sciatic nerve often passes close to, or in the case of some people, through the piriformis muscle. this means that when the muscle is tight the sciatic nerve can become compressed which causes sciatica - pain in the buttocks, down the back of the thigh or down the whole of the leg. because of these symptoms, this condition can also be mistaken for a slipped disk.

plantar fasciitis or heel spur syndrome
a painful condition of the heel and sole of the foot caused by tension in the plantar fascia, which is a ligament-like band running from the heel to the ball of the foot. this causes pain in the heel, bottom of foot or toes which is typically worse in the morning. the tension in the plantar fascia can eventually lead to the formation of heel spurs. plantar fasciitis is common in runners, people who spend a lot of time on their feet or people who sit at their desk and keep their heels off the floor.

repetitive strain injury (RSI)
general pains and loss of function, usually in a limb, caused by repeated movement or sustained static loading. symptoms may include chronic pain, especially at night, inflammation, tingling, numbness and general weakness in the affected area. carpal tunnel syndrome, golfers elbow and tennis elbow are all common RSI conditions.

rotator cuff injuries (shoulder pain)
the majority of shoulder pain conditions are caused by damage to the rotator cuff muscles, particularly the supraspinatus muscle. symptoms include increased chronic pain at night causing problems with sleeping on the injured side, restricted movement of the shoulder and loss of strength.

runners knee
the common term for iliotibial band (ITB) friction syndrome. this is a painful condition of the outside or lateral knee. the ITB becomes inflamed where it passes over the head of the tibia bone. the bursa (a protective gel filled sac) may also become inflamed which is called bursitis. runners knee is commonly caused by extensive downhill running, running on cambered roads or as a result of genetic imbalances in the hip and leg.

sciatica
sciatica is a pain which radiates from the lower back down one or other leg and may also be accompanied by lower back pain. it is most commonly exacerbated by exertion, coughing, sneezing or straining. sciatica can be caused by a slipped disk or by a temporary trapping of the sciatic nerve due to muscular restriction or strain. in severe cases there may be numbness, weakness and reduction of reflexes in the affected leg.

shin splints (lower leg pain)
the common term for medial tibial stress syndrome. this is a painful condition of the lower leg caused by inflammation of the periosteum, or covering, of the tibia bone. this condition is a common complaint of athletes who have recently changed from one playing surface to another, changed their sports shoes, altered their techniques or increased their training on hard surfaces.

snapping hip syndrome
‘snapping’ or ‘clicking’ hip syndrome is characterised by either an audible ‘snap’, or a sensation of snapping, around the hip on certain movements. the snap is caused by a tendon slipping over part of the femur bone in the thigh. this syndrome may be termed either external or internal depending on which tendon is involved. snapping hip syndrome is generally painless, but may become painful or uncomfortable in some cases.

tendinitis
tendons attach muscle to bone and can become inflamed, most commonly due to excessive overuse. tendinitis is the clinical term applied to virtually all painful tendon structures and can occur anywhere in the body. tendinitis is amongst the the category of repetitive strain injury (RSI).

tennis elbow
the common term for lateral epicondylitis, this is a painful inflammation of one of the tendons at the elbow caused by overuse of the forearm muscles. it is similar to golfers elbow, the only difference being the location of the tendon affected. as with golfers elbow, only 5% of people suffering have developing their injury from playing tennis. tennis elbow can also be caused by playing any racquet sport, golf or by carrying out repetitive one-sided movements in a job (eg carpenter) or leisure activity (eg gardening). some people may suffer from both tennis and golfers elbow simultaneously.

TMJ syndrome
temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome is a painful condition of the jaw affecting the TMJ itself as well as the muscles that move the jaw. there may be limited movement of the jaw and the joint may click when opened & shut. a common cause of TMJ syndrome is stress which results in clenching of the jaw and tooth grinding.

torticollis
also known as wry neck. a painful spasm of the neck muscles which causes the head to gradually turn to one side until it is eventually continually held to the side.

thoracic outlet syndrome
the thoracic outlet (sometimes also referred to as the thoracic inlet) is the area of the neck where the nerves that serve the arm exit from the spinal column. when the muscles in this area of the neck become tight they can press on these nerves and cause symptoms such as pain, numbness and tingling down the arm.

tinnitus
tinnitus is the sensation of sounds in the ears and head, typically a persistent buzzing or ringing noise. it may also be accompanied by ear pain, decreased hearing, dizziness and vision problems. tinnitus often accompanies TMJ syndrome and can be due to tension in the muscles of the neck and head.

whiplash
trauma to the cervical spine (neck) caused by rapid extension and flexion of the area. the most common cause is a road traffic accident where one vehicle is run into by another from behind. ligament, bone and muscle injuries can result in chronic pain.