Chiropractor Chandler AZ: Hip Stress Fracture

Your friendly Chiropractor in Chandler AZ, Dr. Dan Rae, is back at the computer this morning to write about Hip Stress Fractures.  I do not see Hip Stress Fractures a lot in my practice, but I have dealt with them on occasion making it something that I feel I should address.


In the image above by MMG 2000, we are able to see the different types of Hip Stress Fractures that occur at the femoral neck.  Within the bone we have different types of cells one of which is an osteoclast and the other an osteoblast.  Osteoclasts in a sense eat bone or destroy it, and osteoblasts on the other hand create bone.  With repetitive stress to the femoral neck, microfractures occur.  This damage leads to increased bone remodeling, or the removal of old bone by osteoclasts and the formation of new bone by osteoblasts.  When osteoclastic activity surpasses osteoblastic activity, the bone becomes weakened leading to fracture.

In most cases that I have had in my office the patient is usually young and active, often participating in cross country, gymnastics, dancing, or marching band.  The pain comes on rather slowly and is worse when standing.  The pain is normal felt on the front and deep into the leg.

Treatment for the Tension/Transverse Stress Fracture is different from that of the Compression Stress Fracture.  With the Transverse Stress Fracture surgical pinning is required to stabilize the hip.  With the Compression Stress Fracture an elastic support is necessary as well as rest for 2 weeks.  After the two weeks non-weight-bearing exercises are implemented such as cycling and swimming.  The Displaced Fracture require surgical pinning as well.

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 specialize in Hip pain.

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.

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.

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.

Top 6 Benefits of Active Release Technique (ART)

What is Active Release Technique or ART?

Active Art Release is a soft tissue massage technique that addresses health problems related to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. This is a common practice in treating people with overused muscles that causes adhesions or scar tissue. When this happens, our muscles become weaker and shorter. Our muscle and joints mobility are also affected due to  nerve compression. As a result, the patient will suffer from decrease of blood supply, poor mobility and pain.

ART has proven to have a 90% success rate. This approach is said to have effectively treated people with the following conditions:

• Headaches
• Back Pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Shin Splints
• Shoulder Pain
• Sciatica
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Knee Problems
• Tennis Elbow

How is Active Release Technique Performed?

Doctor’s uses their hands to evaluate tightness and movement of the muscles, fascia, ligaments, tendons and nerves. Once the problem is identified, The ART technique is applied to correct the specific problem that is affecting the patient. By simply applying pressure, it breakdowns scar tissue, thus, allowing increase in blood flow.
Benefits of Active Release Technique

1.       Relief from back pain problems. Back pains are usually caused by nerves being trapped or compressed. By simply using the ART technique, nerve strains will start to break up and patients now feel relief from back pain.

2.       Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Art is able to address not only one affected area but to all soft tissues of the body.

3.       Knee problems. ART technique is an effective approach in minimizing knee problems which is often caused by psoas muscle.

4.       Shoulder Pain. Once you feel debilitating pain in your shoulder, a soft tissue tune-up might be a good idea. This can be done through ART therapy. With just a few months of continuous therapeutic massage, shoulder pain will be gone completely.

5.       Tennis Elbow Injury. This type of injury is commonly experienced by tennis players. ART is the most effective remedy to treat elbow injury, as it is said to primarily address ligaments, muscles, tendons and nerve issues.

6.       Shin Splints. Shin splints are commonly experience by runners, athletes and other individuals who are serious into keeping themselves healthy and fit. Having this type of injury is very painful. Normally, the lower leg is inflamed due to stress. Inflammation is the repercussion of running for too long or wearing the wrong kind of shoes. But with Active Release Technique, pain is healed restoring strength and vigor easily.