Lateral epicondylalgia (tennis elbow) is a condition that I, and am sure many other physiotherapists out there, treat very commonly. Interestingly, despite the frequency with which healthcare is sought for this condition; only recently has our understanding of the pathophysiology of lateral elbow overuse injury improved. Consequently, the treatment approaches for lateral epicondylalgia vary widely and lack definitive evidence. Therefore, this article will discuss the evidence based assessment and management of lateral epicondylalgia (tennis elbow)…
Athletic Pubalgia (Sports Hernia): Evidence Based Diagnosis and Management
Groin pain is a common complaint in sports involving running, kicking and explosive changes of direction, and as such is frequently encountered by the sports physiotherapist. In soccer, groin and lower abdominal pain accounts for 10-13% of injuries per year. However, due to the number of potential differential diagnoses for athletes with chronic pain in the groin and lower abdominal region only a small proportion of athletes are eventually diagnosed with athletic pubalgia (sports hernias). Athletic pubalgia is a poorly understood disease process and it is imperative that athletes with the condition are managed appropriately as the symptoms can eventually limit the athlete’s participation in training and playing.
The Running Shoe: Excellent Science or Excellent Marketing?
The shoe industry has evolved most rapidly over the previous decade and will continue to evolve as new technologies and markets are formed. We are in an era where athletes are training in barefoot running shoes and it’s not uncommon for a shoe to carry a microprocessor to play music and/or retain information for further gait evaluation post training. This article aims to unravel the hype and assist physiotherapists on advising the most appropriate footwear for their patients.
Patellar Tendinopathy: The Efficacy of Injection Treatments
Patellar tendinopathy is a common overuse injury of the patella tendon frequently seen in running and jumping sports. As many as 53% of athletes retire from their sports due to this injury, highlighting the importance of knowledge and up to date research in such an area to provide optimal treatment (van Ark et al, 2011). The utilisation of injection therapy has recently gained popularity and a number of studies have investigated the clinical benefits and pathological results of the various injection options. This article will discuss new research on the efficacy of injection treatments for patellar tendinopathy.
Ultrasound Therapy For Soft Tissue Injuries
The use of ultrasound therapy is widespread in sports physiotherapy and physical therapy practice. In most cases it is used as an adjunctive therapy to other forms of treatment and rehabilitation. This, unfortunately, is in the absence of well-designed clinical trials demonstrating any significant improvement in human function. This article will discuss recent research on low intensity pulsed ultrasound for the management of soft-tissue injuries….
TSP 003: Achilles Tendinopathy with Karim Khan
In this episode of the podcast I interview Karim Khan. Karim Khan is an Associate Professor from the University of British Columbia, and is the editor of the British Journal of Sports Medicine. He has worked with a number of sports at an elite level, as a sports physician, and is well published on the topic of Achilles tendinopathy management. In the interview we discuss
Patellar Tendinopathy: What are the Risk Factors?
Patellar tendinopathy, commonly referred to as “Jumper’s Knee”, is a common overuse lower limb injury. In certain sporting populations, such as elite volleyball, the incidence can be as high as 45% (Lian et al., 2005). Thus, it is easy to see the importance of the identification of risk factors for patellar tendinopathy. Additionally, once identified such risk factors have clear implications for both the prevention and rehabilitation of this condition. This article discusses the latest research identifying risk factors for the development of patellar tendinopathy.
Achilles Tendinopathy: Evidence Based Diagnosis and Management
INTRODUCTION Mid-portion (or non-insertional) Achilles tendinopathy has been reported as one of the most common overuse injuries (Maffulli et al., 2003). It is common in those who engage in regular physical activity, which means athletes are particularly susceptible to this condition. Sports physiotherapists who treat regularly treat runners will be aware of its high incidence […]
The Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections for Chronic Achilles Tendinopathy
INTRODUCTION Many of you, I’m sure, will be interested to learn to efficacy of PRP injections for treating athletes with chronic achilles tendinopathies. PRP has gained significant attention of late; in the media, medical community and with our athletes. It seems my athletes are always asking for information on the most effective form of injectional […]
