The term concussion refers to a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) resulting in a temporary loss of awareness or conciousness. Concussions can result from falls in which the head strikes against an object, or when a moving object strikes the head. The length of unconciousness may relate to the severity of the concussion, and affected [...]

Not to be confused with a shoulder separation, a dislocated shoulder refers to removal of the ball of the humerus (upper arm bone) from the shoulder socket. Partial dislocation refers to the case in which the upper arm bone is partially in/out of the socket. Dislocation of the shoulder can potentially result in the tearing [...]

Runner’s knee, formally known as chondomalacia patellae, is a degenerative condition affecting the cartilage along the back of the kneecap (i.e., patella). Runner’s knee, which causes dull pain or discomfort around or behind the kneecap, is common in cyclists, rowers, runners, soccer players, and tennis players. Women are more commonly affected by runner’s knee than [...]

See golfer’s elbow.

Not to be confused with a shoulder dislocation, the term shoulder separation refers to the stretching/tearing of ligaments where the clavicle (i.e., collarbone) meets the scapula (i.e., shoulder blade), which is referred to as the acromioclavicular joint (AC). Such an injury is usually caused by falling forward onto an outstretched hand, or by an impact [...]

The term ‘rotator cuff‘ refers to the muscles that support and stabilize the arm, allowing it to move up and down as well as rotate. The rotator cuff is made up of four muscles — the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapulairs, and teres minor. Injuries to these muscles can cause pain and reduce range of motion. Symptoms [...]

The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle (gastrocnemius) and the soleus muscles of the lower leg to the heel. While tendons are strong, they are not particularly flexible, and thus can only be stretched so far before becoming inflamed, or even tearing/rupturing. An Achilles tendon rupture occurs when the force on the tendon is greater [...]

The hamstring consists of three muscles that run down the back of the leg from the pelvis to the lower leg bones — the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus. Hamstring injuries can range from minor strains to a total rupture of the muscle. Hamstring pulls are caused by excessive stretching of these muscles resulting in [...]

A pulled groin occurs when the adductor muscles of the inner thigh are stretched beyond their limits. This stretching can result in small muscle tears that cause pain/swelling. In severe cases, these muscles can be completely torn or ruptured. The adductors are muscles in the upper thigh that run for the pelvis to the femur. [...]

The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle (gastrocnemius) and the soleus muscles of the lower leg to the heel. While tendons are strong, they are not particularly flexible, and thus can only be stretched so far before becoming inflamed, or even tearing/rupturing. Achilles tendonitis results from overuse of the Achilles tendon. Soreness or aching of [...]

Heel spurs are bone growths on the bottom of the heel where muscles and other soft tissue attach to the heel bone. Early signs of heel pain are typically due to plantar fasciitis. Heel spurs can develop when this pain is ignored and the chronic inflammation increases the stress on the fascia. The end result [...]

The term ‘shin splints‘ refers to generalized pain in the front of the lower leg along the shin bone (tibia). Shin splints are the result of trauma to either the muscles or bones of the lower leg. Muscle trauma can result from things such as overtraining or excessive running on hard surfaces. Overuse makes the [...]

Tennis elbow, formally known as lateral epicondylitis, is similar to golfer’s elbow except that it affects the other side of the elbow. The primary symptom is pain at the outside of the elbow (i.e., the lateral epicondyle). The term tennis elbow is itself somewhat of a misnomer, as a wide variety of activities can cause [...]

Golfer’s elbow, formally known as medial epicondylitis, is similar to tennis elbow except that it affects the other side of the elbow. The primary symptom is pain at the inside of the elbow (i.e., the medial epicondyle) which can increase with the flexing of the wrist, and can also radiate down the forearm.
Golfer’s elbow is [...]

Plantar fasciitis is a chronic foot injury that is common in athletes that perform repetitive flexio/dorsiflexion of the toes. The plantar fascia is the tough, fibrous band of tissue that connects your heel bone to the base of your toes. With each step, the plantar fascia is stretched and the arch flattens to absorb the [...]

The term sprain refers to the stretching and/or tearing of ligaments. The most common ankle injury is a sprained ankle, which can occur when the ankle is forced into an abnormal position. Sprained ankles are most commonly caused by ‘rolling’ of the foot in (inversion) or out (eversion). The primary symptoms of an ankle sprain [...]