Library: Arms and Legs
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Referred Pain
Referred pain is pain that is felt at a distance from its source. Referred pain in the knee may be coming from your back or your hip. If, for example, you have a prolapsed disc which is pressing on the sciatic nerve the pain can be transmitted along the nerve and be felt anywhere along its path. The further the point of pain from the source the greater the level of damage to the nerve. Back pain that makes your foot sore is usually more serious than if the all the discomfort was in the back. The pain may also be referred to your knee from “trigger points” in your muscles.
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Tags: Whole Body, Arms and Legs, Lower Body, Ligaments, Spine, Tendons, Muscles, Back pain, Joint strains, Muscle Tears, Muscle sprain or strain, Referred Pain, Sports Injuries
Rupture of the Tendon
Tendon attaches muscle to bone and is the focus for the “pull” of the muscle. When you damage it (see Tendinitis) the muscle pulls part of the tendon away from the bone and the attachment point (or focus) becomes frayed and sore. In the case of a rupture the tendon becomes completely detached from the bone and you can no longer move the joint. While the tendons themselves are enormously strong (half the tensile strength of steel), the attachment to the bone is usually weaker and first to give. Tendinitis is most common at the sites of the strongest muscles (quads, arm muscles, calves).
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Tags: Arms and Legs, Tendons, rupture -, Muscles, Joint strains, Muscle sprain or strain, Rupture of Tendons, Tendinitis
Dislocated Kneecap - Patella
The patella is anatomical name for the kneecap. It is embedded in the tendon at the end of the thigh muscles and slides in a groove as the thigh muscle shortens and lengthens. It acts as part of a pulley, sliding over the end of the thigh bone, transferring the pull of the quadriceps muscle when you straighten your knee. In fact, it is involved in every action of the knee joint and every time you move your knee the kneecap glides along its track.
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Tags: Back - Lower, Arms and Legs, Lower Body, Knees, Shin, Ankle, Ligaments, Dislocated Kneecap - Patella, Joint strains
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a condition most people are likely to suffer from, if they live long enough. It is simply part of the wear and tear of living. What happens is that the lining of your joints, once hard and shiny and an excellent gliding surface, begins to wear, crack and erode until the lining is gone and bone rubs directly off bone. Instead of the once smooth joint, the friction causes the bones to wear. Then the body responds automatically by trying to grow new layers of bone to replace the missing cartilage.
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Tags: Whole Body, Upper Body, Neck & Shoulder, Arms and Legs, Joints, Lower Body, Ligaments, Tendons, Muscles, Back pain, Osteoarthritis
Fracture - Shoulder
A fracture is another name for a break in the bone. There are 3 bones in the shoulder and these are held together by a complex series of muscles, tendons and ligaments. The shoulder joint is designed in such a way as to allow maximum flexibility. This flexibility must be severely limited in order for your fracture to heal after a break, and often a plaster cast is required to immobilise the arm and shoulder movement.
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Tags: Upper Body, Neck & Shoulder, Shoulder, Arms and Legs, Frozen Shoulder, Neck / Shoulder problems
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia (also known as Fibrositis) is a felt as a series of sharp stabbing pains in the neck, shoulder blades, arms, chest, lower back and hips. The cause of these chronic widespread aches is not known, and most people find that it takes a number of years (7) to have it diagnosed. Diagnosis is eventually made on the basis of pain in 11 of 18 specified locations on the body.
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Tags: Neck, Neck & Shoulder, Shoulder, Back - Upper, Back - Lower, Arms and Legs, Lower Body, Hips, Back pain, Neck / Shoulder problems
Hammer Toe
Each of your feet is made up of 26 bones that are held together by a complex arrangement of ligaments, muscles, tendons and fascia. The foot is a tremendously clever piece of engineering designed to spread and absorb the weight of your body evenly when you stand or walk. It is very flexible adapting to uneven ground so you don’t stumble on rough patches. By tensing your foot muscles you can change it from being flexible to being rigid.
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Tags: Arms and Legs, Feet
Turf Toe
Though this can be an overuse injury it most often comes on suddenly. It affects the big toe in the kicking foot when it is bent too far upwards and back towards the ankle. You may not be able to curl it downwards fully, and after a while it may get stiff and sore. As with other injuries arthritis can then set in, and unless it is properly cared for it will injure more easily the second time.
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Tags: Arms and Legs, Lower Body, Feet, Ankle Sprain or Strain, Muscle sprain or strain
