Saturday, April 13, 2013

Chiropractic Chandler AZ: Osteitis Pubis





Your friendly Chiropractor in Chandler AZ, Dr. Dan Rae, is back at the computer this morning to discuss a condition called Osteitis Pubis.  This is a condition that you want to avoid like the plague if possible because it is quite painful, and many people spend a lot of time trying to get the proper diagnosis all the while being in a substantial amount of pain.

In the image above by RelayHealth, we are able to see the effected structures with Osteitis Pubis.  This occurs as a result of direct compressive or distractive injury causing pain at the pubic joint.  There is usually tenderness at the pubic joint and sometimes there is pain when squeezing the pelvis together.  Muscles tests of the adductor muscles, the muscles the bring the leg toward the mid line, are extremely painful.

These patients come into my office reporting either a sudden forced adduction injury or repetitive minor trauma as seen with kicking or running.  Pregnant women have been shown to be susceptible to this injury during childbirth.

Management of this condition when diagnosed properly is not very difficult.  Treatment includes rest with slow return to activity, and gradually increasing flexibility.  Avoiding the inciting activity is absolutely necessary, especially side-foot kicking or maneuvers that require squeezing the legs together.  An SI belt as seen in the image below can often help to stabilize the pelvis.
If the joint becomes unstable surgical stabilization is required.

Author Bio:
Dr. Rae's professional interests lie in helping the community reach their health potential.  Through hundreds of hours of post-graduate training, Dr. Rae has studied different soft-tissue therapies, studying the muscles and how to help them function appropriately. He specializes in Hip pain or Pelvic pain.

Friday, April 12, 2013

chiroprator active release technique: Hamstring Strain




Your friendly Chiropractor in Chandler AZ, Dr. Dan Rae, is back at the computer as we are starting to warm up outside to talk about Hamstring Strains as runners start to get back out on the roads and so forth.  This is a condition that I see a lot in the spring months as people begin to become more active to try and get those beach bodies

In the image above by MendMeShop, we are able to to clearly see a Hamstring Strain of the biceps femoris muscle.  This condition call also occur in the semitendinosus and semimembranosus muscles.  The reason this injury occurs is from an overcontraction of the hamstring while it is in a position of being stretched.  Tearing occurs most often at the junction of the muscles and aponeurosis (A sheet of pearly-white fibrous tissue that takes the place of a tendon in sheetlike muscles having a wide area of attachment). An Avulsion Fracture (An avulsion fracture is a bone fracture, which occurs when a fragment of bone tears away from the main mass of bone as a result of physical trauma) is possible at the ischial tuberosity (sit bone) in younger athletes whose growth plates haven’t closed yet.

These patients are usually what we would call “weekend warriors” all the way to the serious athlete who feels a sudden pull or pop at the back of the thigh following some sort of forceful knee extension maneuver.

Treatment for this condition consists of rest, ice, use of crutches for several days, gentle stretching as soon as possible as well as soft-tissue treatments such as Active Release Technique (ART) and Graston Technique, and a long-term goal of restrengthening beginning when 75% of the normal range of motion is available.  Kinesiology Tape can be applied to decrease the amount of tension being placed on the hamstring.  Prevention of future injury should focus on preevent stretching, maintaining a proper strength ratio between the hamstrings and the quadriceps (0.6:1), and strength balance between the two hamstrings.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Kinesiology tape: Adductor Strain/ Groin Pull



Your friendly Chiropractor in Chandler AZ, Dr. Dan Rae, is back at the computer this afternoon to talk about the Adductor Strain also known as a Groin Pull or Pulled Groin.  This is an injury that happens quite often, and I would have to say I see it mostly in individuals who do not warm up properly.

The cause of the Adductor Strain is generally from a sudden contraction of the adductor muscles (the muscles that pull the leg back to mid line) from a stretched position where the hip abducted out away from the body or in a flexed position.  The most common site of this injury is at the junction of the muscle and the tendon of the adductor magnus muscle.

These patients usually come into my office complaining pain in the groin area after performing movements such as kicking, sprinting, water skiing, or jumping such as high jumps or hurdles.  They also say that the pain in the groin came on immediately after the movement and was incapacitating.

Treatment for this condition sometimes includes an elastic figure eight strapping around the hip with slight extension and internal rotation of the hip.  Kinesiology Tape is often applied to decrease the amount of tension being placed on the adductor muscles, and myofascial release techniques such as Active Release Technique (ART) and Graston Technique are utilized to prevent scar tissue formation and encourage proper healing.

Monday, April 8, 2013

Chiroprator Chandler AZ: Quadriceps Muscle Strain



Your friendly Chiropractor in Chandler AZ, Dr. Dan Rae, is back at the computer this morning trying to pump out this article prior to patients arriving.  Today, I am going to continue with the thigh and address the Quadriceps Strain.  This injury is not seen as much in my office as the Hamstring Strain, but I do still see it quite frequently.

In the image above by MendMeShop, we are able to clearly see the muscles the form the quadriceps muscle group and more.  The cause of a Quadriceps Strain is due to sudden contraction of the quadriceps, which results in what we often here as a pull, or less commonly, a full rupture of the muscle.  Some reasons that would predispose someone to this injury is tight quadriceps, which generally stems from not properly warming up prior to activity as well as imbalance between the quadriceps of the opposite leg, or one leg being shorter than the other.

These patients generally come into my office complaining of a sudden pulling pain at the front of the thigh after attempting to sprint, whiffing on a kick, or stopping very rapidly.

Treatment for this condition is not very difficult, but must be done properly to avoid more serious problems.  Ice should be applied as soon as possible to control the inflammation and swelling coupled with neoprene or some sort of elastic support.  Kinesiology Tape can be applied to reduce the tension being placed on the quadriceps musculature.  Stretching should be initiated as soon as possible with very gentle stretching.  Myofascial release techniques such as Active Release Technique (ART) and Graston Technique can be implemented to prevent scar tissue formation and chronic shortening of the muscle.  Complete tears or ruptures of the muscle or tendon require surgical repair.

Author Bio:
Dr. Rae's professional interests lie in helping the community reach their health potential.  Through hundreds of hours of post-graduate training, Dr. Rae has studied different soft-tissue therapies, studying the muscles and how to help them function appropriately. He specializes in knee pain, thigh pain and hip pain.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Chiropractor Chandler AZ: Iliotibial Band Syndrome



Your friendly Chiropractor in Chandler AZ, Dr. Dan Rae, is back at the computer today moving down the leg a little bit to talk about Iliotibial Band Syndrome also known as ITB Syndrome or ITBS.  This is something that I would have to say that I see every single day in my office, and therefore, it needs to be addressed.

In the image above by MendMeShop, we are clearly able to see the structures involved with Iliotibial Band Syndrome.  It is believed that the cause of this syndrome stems from a tight iliotibial band (ITB) that rubs against the lateral epicondyle of the femur when the knee is bent at approximately 30 to 40 degrees.  There are predisposing factors to this syndrome such as running downhill, hyperpronation (arches collapse and ankles roll in), or cycling without allowing the leg to become fully extended at the bottom of each rotation.

These patients come into my office complaining of pain on the outside of their (lateral) knee that has progressively increased with time.  The pain is almost related to running, but some individuals may develop it from sitting for long periods.  Downhill running seems to be the main cause and pain occurs just before the heel makes contact with the ground.  Some of my patients report a squeaking noise when bending and straightening the knee.

Treatment for Iliotibial Band Syndrome is not one of the most comfortable treatments.  In the acute phase rest and ice is necessary, but as soon as possible stretching and myofascial release techniques such as Active Release Technique (ART) and Graston Technique should be implemented to break up any fibrotic adhesions that may have developed between the ITB and the surrounding musculature.  Kinesiology Tape has also been shown to alleviate some on the tension being placed on the ITB.  In some cases orthotics are necessary to prevent hyperpronation.