Golfer’s elbow and Tennis Elbow are both tendonitis. The difference is Golfer’s elbow occurs on the inner side of the elbow while Tennis Elbow occurs on the outer side of the elbow. Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis is the inflammation of the tendon that connects the forearm muscles to a bony prominence on the outside of the elbow known as the lateral epicondyle. Golfer’s elbow, on the other hand, is known as medial epicondylitis because the inflammation is on the tendons which are attached to the medial epicondyle.
How Is Tennis Elbow Diagnosed?
Your physiotherapist will evaluate tennis elbow by reviewing your medical history, performing and reviewing your medical history. A doctor may recommend a X-ray, EMG or MRI to assess the severity of the condition.
A physiotherapist can also conduct a detailed assessment of your elbow and the surrounding structures in order to create a personalized treatment plan for you. Special tests such as Cozen’s and Mills Test can also be used to diagnose Tennis elbow.
What are the complications of a Tennis Elbow?
Complications of Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis may include tendon rupture, recurrence of the injury, chronic pain, nerve entrapment in the forearm, and failure to improve despite both nonsurgical and no surgical treatment.
Cause of Tennis Elbow and Treatment
What causes a Tennis elbow and who might get a Tennis Elbow?
Some causes of Tennis elbow are:
- weak wrist muscles,
- use of tennis racquets that are too short,
- weakened muscles of the shoulder and wrist,
- repetitive hand motions,
- poor tennis technique,
- frequent use of hand tools,
- lifting heavy objects, and
- excessive gripping activities.
Despite the name, Tennis elbow is not only for tennis players although they tend to often develop tennis elbow because of the repetitive muscle use and gripping activities the sport entails. People whose professions involve repetitive use of the wrist and forearm are more likely to develop lateral epicondylitis.
Some professions, such as painters, dentists, plumbers, carpenters, musicians, and cooks, may develop Tennis elbow which can also be caused by the repetitive use of a keyboard and mouse.
What Is The Best Treatment For Tennis Elbows?
The majority of tennis elbow cases can be successfully treated without surgical intervention. How a tennis elbow is treated may vary depending on which medical professional you choose to see.
Research has shown that physiotherapy is the most effective treatment of the Tennis elbow.
Tennis Elbow Physiotherapy Treatment
- Therapeutic Ultrasound
- Acupuncture
- Tennis elbow treatment exercises
- Deep tissue massage
- Shockwave therapy
- Taping or brace
- TENS
- Modified activities
- Hot and cold packs
How does massage help heal Tennis elbow?
Tennis Elbow Massage Treatment helps improve circulation, stimulate collagen production, and increases mobility in the affected area.
What Can I Do To Prevent Tennis Elbow?
There are many ways to prevent Tennis elbow such as:
- Stretching regularly.
- Strengthening of the forearm muscles.
- Modifying activities that contribute to pain.
- Warming up before playing tennis and other sports and ensuring the stability of the wrist.
What are some Tennis elbow exercises which can be done at home to help prevent recurrence?
Specific Tennis elbow exercises to strengthen as well as stretch the muscles that are attached to the injured tendon will certainly help speed up healing which then increases its resistance to repetitive stress… Some of these Tennis elbow treatment exercises are Stress ball squeeze, finger stretch, wrist extension, flexion stretch, forearm extension, flexion, supination, and pronation strengthening exercises.
Are there any natural Tennis elbow treatments I can do at home while I wait to see a physiotherapist?
Resting and avoiding activities that aggravate your pain can be beneficial. You may also try to apply an ice pack for 15 mins three times a day.
What is the best treatment for chronic Tennis elbow?
The most effective treatment for chronic tennis elbow has always been physiotherapy and exercise. If physiotherapy does not fully heal it, however, steroid injections, braces, and surgery may also help.
Our physiotherapists in Toronto, Midtown Toronto, Mississauga, North York and Oakville can help you with tennis elbow. Book your appointment here.
While muscular pain is an inevitable part of life, some suffer from it for a long period of time and others proactively seek pain relief through massage therapy. Massage therapy is the scientific manipulation of the soft tissues of the body and it is used as a healing technique. Our skin is the largest organ of our body. While regular massage has tremendous health benefits, it is important to get it from a skilled therapist. Massage therapy has proven that it rids the body of physical discomfort and also improves a person’s mental & physical capacity without the use of prescription of medicines.
Some benefits of massage therapy are:
- Improved Joint mobility
- Reduced pain
- Enhanced blood circulation
- Reduced stress
- Reduced muscle tension
- Immediate health benefits
- Reduced intensity of headaches
- Relief from Insomnia
Also read, Best Physiotherapy Treatment in Oakville
Massage therapy is not just for the skin and muscles, it can also help to reduce high blood pressure, lower chances of depression and relieve headaches.
Various Types of Massage:
- Swedish massage (Relaxation, stress relief)
- Foot massage (Improves circulation, reduction of trigger points)
- Hand massage (Enhanced circulation, reduction of your trigger points)
- Deep tissue massage (repetitive strain, postural problems, recovery from injury)
- Sports massage (Preventing and treating injury and enhancing athletic performance)
Also read, Physiotherapists in Mississauga
Stress is one of the most significant factors that impact psychological and physical health. Massage therapy can be used to treat both acute and chronic conditions.
Causes: According to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) Consumer survey, 72% of individuals surveyed claim their primary reason for receiving a massage in the previous 12 months was for medical reasons (43%) or stress-related (29%).
A growing body of research supports the health benefits of massage therapy for conditions such as stress, low-back pain and more.
Effect: There are innumerable benefits to be achieved through regular massage therapy treatments from a Registered Massage Therapist. Whether your need is to have a moment of relaxation, reduce muscle tension or attain relief from chronic pain, a therapeutic massage can enhance your overall sense of emotional and physical well-being.
Also read, Physiotherapy Etobicoke
How is it Important in today’s life?
Well, our brain and muscles need time to rest once in awhile if they are expected to move, think, and be productive forever. Seek help from a Massage Therapist to find relief from your symptoms. If you take care of your body today it will be there for you tomorrow! Adding massage therapy to your healthcare/recovery plan will provide natural relief without the aid of painkillers.
Don’t continue to suffer! Book an appointment with us to improve your health.
Massage Therapy Oakville | Massage Therapy Etobicoke | Massage Therapy Mississauga | Massage Therapy North York | Massage Therapy Toronto
Massage therapy has a positive effect on a plethora of medical conditions. It rejuvenates both your mind and muscles. Everyone experiences pain, the only difference is some continue to suffer and some proactively seek pain relief through massage therapy. Our skin is the largest organ on our body. The skin interfaces with the environment and is the first line of defense from external factors. Taking good care of your skin through massage therapy will help keep your skin healthy and muscles rejuvenated. Massage therapy is regarded as one of the oldest health care professions. Massage therapy is not just for the skin and muscles, it can also help to reduce high blood pressure, lower chances of depression and relieve headaches.
Also read, Physiotherapy Etobicoke
Healing from a car accident injury through massage therapy
Car accidents can cause a variety of physical problems, and many people seek physiotherapy and/or massage therapy for relief from whiplash and other aches and pains. Massage therapy has the potential for facilitating health, wellness, and injury recovery from car accidents.
- Massage therapy can relieve Whiplash
Whiplash injuries are common in car and sports accidents. People who get whiplash may experience pain, stiffness, and poor range of motion, among other symptoms. Some people may feel mental or emotional symptoms such as loss of memory or focus, insomnia, and depression. If you have whiplash, ask your physician about adding massage to your physical therapy regimen, as the combination could help speed up your recovery.
2) Massage Therapy for Knee Injuries
People in car accidents often injure their knees (though not as often as heads, necks, and spines). Statistics show car crash victims often injure their Anterior Cruciate Ligaments (ACLs), as do many athletes. Massage therapy has been shown to provide pain relief and healing for people with a wide variety of knee problems.
Also read, Physiotherapy Clinic in Oakville
3) Massage therapy helps to recover from Immediate emotional trauma
If you’re in a car crash, you may suffer emotionally even if you do not sustain any physical injuries. Massage therapy, especially within several hours of an auto accident, can help people recover their emotional balance.
We all suffer from adverse health effects both psychological and physical, and stress is one of the important factors to look after. A massage can help reduce everyday stress by helping muscles to relieve and relax through the pressure points manually worked on by one of our experienced massage therapists.
Our registered massage therapists at Triangle are happy to assist you with any questions pertaining to your health goals and guide you on the road to recovery. Adding massage therapy to your healthcare/recovery plan will provide a natural relief without the aid of pain killers. Living pain free naturally is our goal, and at Triangle we will guide you every step of the way.
What are orthotics?
Orthotics are custom made inserts that are worn inside your shoe to control abnormal foot function.
Orthotics solve a number of biomechanically related problems, for example, ankle and knee pain, pelvis, hip, spinal pain. This is achieved by preventing misalignment of the foot, which significantly alters the way in which the bones move within their joints.
Also read, Physiotherapy Rehab Clinic in Mississauga
How are custom orthotics made?
The process starts with the chiropodist, chiropractor or physiotherapist conducting a Biomechanical Gait analysis on a tablet that records your gait pattern & explaining the results to you. The chiropodist, chiropractor or physiotherapist may also take a 3D cast of your feet in a foam box.
The orthotics are then custom-manufactured in the lab based on your foot impressions & scan.
Once the orthotics are made & delivered to the clinic, the chiropodist, chiropractor or physiotherapist will have you come in for a fitting & explain to you the wear & care of the orthotics.
Also read, Physiotherapy Clinic in Etobicoke
Why choose Triangle Physiotherapy for your custom orthotics?
- State of the art technology
- Experienced chiropodists, chiropractors or physiotherapists trained in Biomechanical Assessments & Orthotic Prescription
- Lifetime warranty on the orthotics*
- Assistance with sending your claims in to your insurance.
Pacifying the Pain – All about Patella Tendon Tears
Despite it being named a “Tendon”, the patella tendon is both a ligament and a tendon. It connects to two different bones, the patella and the tibia. The patella tendon works in unison with the quadricepmuscles and quadricep tendons allowing them to straighten the knee. The tear within the patella tendon is either partial or complete and can be a disabling injury:
- Partial tear- More frayed and not complete, (think of a rope that is not completely torn)
- Complete Tear- The tissue is torn into two complete pieces
There are numerous causes that can contribute to the tear of a patella tendon:
- Falls
- Jumping
- Patellar tendonitis- inflammation of the patellar tendon thus weakening the tendon, causing small tears.
- Chronic disease – Chronic renal failure, rheumatoid arthritis, Diabetes mellitus & metabolic disease, etc.
- Infection
- Surgery
Also read, Best Physiotherapy Clinic Mississauga
Most patients have stated that they had felt a popping or tearing sensation when the patella tendon has torn. Additional symptoms recorded were:
- Indentation at the spot where the patella tendon is located
- Bruising
- Tenderness
- Cramping
- Shift of the kneecap to thigh, due to un-attachment
- Difficulty walking due to weakness in the knee
Also read, Physiotherapy Oakville
Once the initial pain and swelling has subsided, physiotherapy treatments can be started. Physiotherapy can restore strength and range of motion. Depending on the intensity of the injury, a brace may need to be worn. While the brace is worn, straight leg exercises are often prescribed to strengthen the quadriceps muscles. As the patellar tendon heals, eventually the brace may be removed, allowing the patient to move freely with a greater range of motion, with more exercises being put into use as healing progresses.
Recovery from patellar tendon tears is possible, and most individuals are able to return to work and regular activities. Even though patients may feel stiffness in the region after recovery, most regain nearly equal motion compared to the uninjured leg. At Triangle Physiotherapy, we are able to dispense custom-fit braces to aid in the recovery of patellar tendon tears. For more information visit our custom braces page at: https://www.trianglephysiotherapy.com/services/custom-bracing
Do your legs tingle, become numb, or feel weak? You may be experiencing Sciatica. The term Sciatica describes leg pain that originates from the lower back and travels through the buttock and down the large sciatic nerve in the back of each leg. Sciatica is not a medical diagnosis in and of itself –it is a symptom of an underlying medical condition. Common lower back problems such as: lumbar herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, and spondylolisthesis can cause sciatica symptoms. Sciatica is often characterized by one or more of the following symptoms:
• Constant pain in only one side of the buttock or leg (rarely in both legs)
• Pain that becomes worse when sitting
• Leg pain that is described as burning, tingling, or searing
• Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg, foot, and/or toes
• A sharp pain that may make it difficult to stand up or walk
• Pain that radiates down the leg and possibly into the foot and toes
Physiotherapy exercises incorporating a combination of strengthening, stretching, and aerobic conditioning are a central component of almost any sciatica treatment plan.
• Strengthening exercises- Most of these back exercises focus not only on the lower back, but also the abdominal muscles, and the buttock and hip muscles.
• Stretching exercises- Stretches for sciatica are designed to target muscles that cause pain when they are tight and inflexible.
• Low-impact aerobic exercise- Some form of low-impact cardiovascular exercise such as: walking, swimming, or pool therapy is usually a component of recovery, as aerobic activity encourages the exchange of fluids and nutrients to help create a better healing environment.
Also read, Physiotherapy Clinic Etobicoke
When patients engage in a regular program of gentle exercises, they can recover more quickly from sciatica pain and are less likely to have future episodes of pain. As sciatica is due to pressure on the sciatic nerve, it stands to reason that treatment involves removing this pressure. Your physiotherapy treatment aims to achieve this by reducing nerve pressure caused by poorly moving spinal joints as well as easing muscular tension in the lower spine, buttock, and leg.
If you are suffering from sciatica please do not delay. You can achieve the best results when you address the symptoms early!
A knee sprain is an injury of the ligaments; tough bands of fibrous tissue that connect the bones of the upper and lower leg at the knee joint. One of the main forms of knee sprain is in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The ACL and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) bridge the inside of the knee joint, forming an, “X” pattern that stabilises the knee against front-to-back and back-to-front forces. There are certain movements in the knee that causes a sprain in the ACL such as: a sudden stop; a twist, pivot, or change in direction at the joint; extreme over-straightening (hyperextension); or a direct impact to the outside of the knee or lower leg. These injuries are quiet common among athletes in sports such as: football, basketball, soccer, rugby, wrestling, gymnastics, and skiing.
It is suggested that when one knee ligament suffers a sprain, there is a good chance that the other parts of the knee may also be injured, most commonly the ACL. Knee sprains are very common. ACL sprains tend to cause more significant symptoms compared to MCL injuries. The most frequent signs of an ACL sprain are:
- A pop heard or felt inside your knee at the time of injury
- Significant knee swelling within a few hours after injury
- Severe knee pain that prevents you from continued participation in your sport
- Black-and-blue discoloration around the knee
- Knee instability- the feeling that your knee will buckle or give out
After injury, a physiotherapist will examine both knees, comparing the injured knee to the uninjured one. During this exam, the physiotherapist will check your injured knee for signs of swelling, deformity, tenderness, fluid inside the knee joint and discoloration. If the patient does not have too much pain and swelling, a physiotherapist will then evaluate the knee’s range of motion and will pull against the ligaments to check their strength. During the exam, the patient will have to bend their knee and the physiotherapist will gently pull forward or push backward on their lower leg where it meets the knee.
Based on the results of the patients’ exam, diagnostic tests may need to be performed to further evaluate the condition of the patients’ knee. These tests may include standard X-Ray’s to check for ligament separation from bone or fracture. Tests may also include a MRI scan or a camera –guided knee surgery (arthroscopy). The expected duration of the injury depends on the severity of the patients’ knee sprain, their rehabilitation program, and what type of sports the patients play. In general, milder sprains heal within 2-4 weeks, whereas other types may take 4-12 months. There are many ways of preventing ACL knee sprain, to help sports related injuries you can:
- Warm up and stretch before participating in athletic activities
- Do exercises which strengthen the leg muscles around the knee, especially the quadriceps.
- Avoid sudden increases in the intensity of a training program. Do not push too hard or too fast. Gradually increase intensity.
- Wear comfortable, supportive shoes that fit your feet and fit your sport
About 90% of people with ACL injuries can expect a full recovery after proper treatment and a good physical therapy program. As a long-term complication, some patients who suffered from an ACL sprain eventually develop pain from osteoarthritis in the joint where the knee has been injured. This symptom may not become present until 15 to 20 years after the initial knee injury.
Call a professional when:
- Knee becomes very painful or swollen
- Cannot bear weight
- Feels as if it will buckle or give out.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common type of adult- onset motor neuron disease. Neurological disorders are characterized primarily by progressive degeneration and loss of motor neurons. ALS involves upper and lower motor neurons and presents as an idiopathic , progressive degeneration of anterior horn cells and their associated neurons, resulting in progressive muscle weakness, atrophy, and fasciluations.
ALS is a gradual onset disease. The first initial symptoms of ALS varies person to person. One person may have trouble with their grip, such as holding a cup or pen, while another person may experience change in pitch in their voice while speaking. The rate at which ALS develops also varies person to person, with the mean survival time ranging three to five years. Although there are cases in which people have lived five, and ten or more years. Onset symptoms can begin in the muscles that control speech and swallowing, or in the hands, arms, legs or feet. Not all people who suffer from ALS experience the same symptoms as others or the same sequences or patterns of progression. Although, universally progressive muscle weakness and paralysis is experienced.
ALS is a somewhat difficult disease to diagnose. There is not one test or procedure to instantly establish the diagnosis of ALS. Through the use of clinical examination, and a series of diagnostic tests, often ruling out other diseases that mimic ALS, that a diagnosis can be established. A comprehensive diagnostic check-list includes most, if not all, of all the following procedures:
- Electrodiagnostic tests- Electomyography (EMG) and Nerve conduction velocity (NCV)
- Blood & Urine studies
- Spinal tap
- X-rays including MRI
- Myleogram of cervical spine
- Muscle and/or nerve biopsy
- A thorough neurological examination
These tests are done at the discretion of the physician, usually based on the results of other diagnostic tests and the physical examination. There are several diseases that have some of the same symptoms as ALS, and most of these conditions are treatable.
Treatment of ALS can be done with physiotherapy, focusing on stretching and daily range of motion (ROM) exercises. Our physiotherapists at Triangle will focus on the emphasis of energy conservation and teach patients and caregivers methods for performing safe, efficient transfers. Our therapists at Triangle can also provide instruction for strengthening exercise programs. In one study, individualized, moderate-intensity, endurance-type exercises for the trunk and limbs performed 15 minutes twice daily was shown to significantly reduce spasticity as measured by the Ashworth scale. At Triangle, we may have to recommend wheel chairs to anticipate the patients future needs. Initially, a lightweight wheelchair should be rented, with future plans to purchase a heavier chair when the patient is no longer able to ambulate. Modifications will be recommended on the basis of the patients condition and tolerance for gadgets.