Hamstring strain

Signs or symptoms:

A hamstring strain is a tear in one or more of the hamstrings muscles (semimembranosis, semitentinosus, and biceps femoris). It often is the result from overloading the muscle and or moving it too fast.

* sharp pain at the back of the leg

* muscle spasm and or cramp

* swelling and or bruise

* pain with stretching the muscle

* pain on muscle contraction

* complete tear you will feel a gap in the muscle

Grade I

* tightness in back of thigh

* able to walk normally, however you are aware of discomfort

* minimal swelling

Grade II

* may limp

* with activity may notice sudden twinge of pain

* may have swelling

* moderate pain

* might not be able to fully straighten the knee

Grade III

* walking severely affected may need crutches

* severe pain

* noticeable swelling

Treatment in the first 48 hours are crucial!

1. Rest, Cold therapy, Compress, Elevate

2 Compression bandage to minimize intra muscular bleeding

3. Early mobilization.. Movement Stretch and Strengthen throughout pain free range of motion. This will aid in decreasing the swelling

See a Sports Injury Specialist

What a Sport Injury Specialist will do for you:

1. Myofascial release (Active Release Technique or Graston) - speed up recovery and break down the new collagen network allowing the correct fibers to repair and rebuild correctly.

2. Ultrasound and Electrical stimulation to help aid the repair and rebuild process of new collagen

3. See a physical therapist for rehabilitation exercises to strengthen and stretch the new tissue

1.

Prevent the reoccurance of soft-tissue injury

Once you have removed the restricted adhesions and restored function to injured soft tissue, it is ultimately important for you to continue with your exercises to rehabilitate the soft tissue injury.

Exercise serves several functions:
1. To increase strength beyond pre-injury state
2. Improve flexibility
3. Restore and/or improve balance to injured area

Here are some tools to help

1. Continue with Prescribed exercises from doctor
2.Release Your Pain by Dr Abelson, D.C.
3. Bender Ball boot camp DVD for core strength
4. Trigger point technology kits [hip and low back and the Grid]
5. Yoga classes

Knee pain?

It may not be your knee fault. The knees are merely the compensation to the problem which is may be above or below the knee. Kinetic chain dysfunction in the pelvis or hips or in the feet or ankles can put the knee in a mechanical disadvantage. Over time this disadvantage can cause knee pain.

One common injury is IT band syndrome.

Symptoms: Pain at the outside of knee

Causes:

- Biomechanical imbalances in lumbopelvic hip complex

- Excessive pronation of the foot

- Weakness in the Gluteus

This causes the knee to adduct resulting in overactivity of the TFL, shorthead of bicep femoris, and adductors, which causes a shortening of IT band which puts extra strain on the attachment site of the lateral knee.

Treatment choices

- TP kit for Hip and low back

- Foam roller

More stubborn cases may need

- Active release technique and or Graston technique

- Chiropractic adjustments

- Corrective exercise program to resolve the biomechanic deficiency to prevent the problem from reoccuring.

What is Scar tissue??

What is scar tissue?

What injuries cause scar tissue?

What are the disadvantages of scar tissue?

What can be done?

What is scar tissue? Scar tissue is like human glue that sticks to muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, nerves, and arteries. Scar tissue is laid down by a cell called a fibroblast. It is activated when you cause damage tissue.

What injuries cause scar tissue? Acute Injury. You can suffer from an acute injury such as tearing a muscle or ligament, such as a sprain/strain. Or you can suffer from trauma. Your body immediately goes into an inflammatory state and fibroblasts get to work by laying down scar tissue to "stabilize" the area. Unfortunately this leads to the Cumulative Injury Cycle. This is why an injury to one area of the body can cause a repetitive motion injury somewhere else. For example, a prior ankle sprain can cause hip pain in a runner. Repetitive motion, poor posture and constant pressure/tension. These types of injuries can also cause the laying down of adhesions by not giving your tissues enough rest. For example, lets consider a person working constantly on a computer, not, only are the forearms under constant contraction, but the neck muscles are constantly contracted to hold up the head. This is even more exaggerated if the computer worker sits with poor posture such as forward head, a hunched upper back, and rounded shoulders.

What are the disadvantages of scar tissue? Unfortunately, scar tissue is not as tensile and strong as regular, healthy tissue...this starts the cumulative injury cycle. What will you experience?* pain* restrictions* reduced range of motion* dysfunction - since scar tissue delays the activation of your muscles

You are probably wondering what can I do?

* Active Release Technique/Graston = break up the scar tissue

* Physical therapy = exercises to correct any imbalances, weakness, dysfunction, poor posture, or reduced range of motion

* Massage therapy = once a month to prevent injuries

Repetitive Strain Injuries

Repetitive injury symptoms
* Dull ache
* Tender
* Pain
* Tingling and numbness
* Loss of joint range of motion
* Loss of muscle strength

Type of injuries:
- Carpal tunnel
- Achilles Tendinitis
- Back and neck pain
- Elbow pain
- Foot pain - Plantar fascitis, metatarsalgia
- Shoulder pain - Rotator cuff injury
- Knee pain - ITB syndrome, Patellofemoral pain syndrome,
to name a few

Muscles that are tight [restricted] and stuck [adhesed] are not able to relax. Active Release Technique and Graston technique will help release the muscle tissue and decrease your pain.

Here are some things you can do to help
1. Decrease the impact...take frequent breaks and vary work routine
2. Improve your strength which will decrease the force of repetition to the muscles
3. Improve ergonomics of task [tool, furniture, position]
4. Increase rest and relaxation to muscles

Consult your doctor if pain or discomfort is more intense and more frequent.