You must have had an ankle sprain or at least heard of it   it is an injury to the ligaments surrounding and connecting the bones of the leg to the foot. The injury occurs when you accidentally turn or twist the ankle in an awkward way. This can tear or stretch the ligaments that hold together the joint and bones of your ankle.

What Could Possible Lead to a Sprained Ankle? 
A sprain occurs when the ankle joint is forced out of its normal position as a result of the following  

  Awkwardly placing the foot while stepping up and down, jumping or running
  Stepping on an irregular surface
  During a sport or any sort of rigorous physical activity
  An injury while exercising
  Wearing inappropriate footwear

Symptoms of a Sprained Ankle-
A sprained ankle causes pain, swelling, and limited range of motion. You are likely to experience the following symptoms you sprain your ankle  

  Tenderness
  Bruising
  Stiffness
  Discolouration of skin
  Instability in the ankle
  Limping
  A popping sound or sensation at the time of the injury
  Inability to put pressure on the injured ankle

The symptoms of an ankle sprain are usually self-diagnosable and treatable at home. Nevertheless, you never know how severe the sprain could be. Therefore, consider seeing a doctor when you are having problems with your foot or ankle. A specialist can determine whether the injury is just a sprain or something more serious, with the help of X-ray and MRI.

What is the Treatment for Ankle Sprain?
The line of treatment depends on the type of sprain your ankle sustains. Treatment options include  

  RICE   Many people resort to simple home remedies such as RICE and cold compress to treat a sprained ankle. RICE refers to Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. It is a first-aid cure for strains and sprains.
  Cold Compress    Helps reduce inflammation and dulls pain sensation
  Medications   If you visit an orthopaedic, he/she will prescribe the NSAIDs to ease pain and reduce inflammation and fever
  Braces and Splints   These are applied to aid in stabilizing and protecting the injured joint and its movement
  Elastic Bandage   Stretchy bandages are used to wrap strains and sprains. These provide compression and support during recovery.

Apart from medications and devices, the doctor may also recommend stretching, physiotherapy, and massage. Mild physical movement and exercise will help relax your muscles and restore flexibility and muscle strength.

An ankle sprain cannot be prevented; it can happen anytime. What you can do is consult a specialist and seek treatment to get back to your daily activities.

Know More About Ankle Sprain!

The causes and symptoms of chronic lower back pain

Lower back pain is characterized by a feeling of pain around the lumbar region (curve of the back connecting the upper back and glutes- muscles in the buttock that are responsible for thigh movement) caused by muscle or ligament injury. The spinal area is most likely to be affected by lower pain as it may impair routine activities like walking and standing. Any lower back pain that lasts for more than ninety days can be considered as chronic.

Causes of lower back pain

There are plenty of causes for lower back pain. Anything that exposes the lumbar area of the spine to a level of stress beyond its capacity can cause lower back pain. These causes are-

1. Disorders of the discs

The spinal area in the lower back comprises of small bones called the vertebra, which are connected to each other by pieces of cartilage known as discs. These discs act as shock absorbers, and when exposed to excessive shock can cause the disc to bulge, resulting in herniated discs. Wear and tear of the discs can also occur.

2. Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis occurs when the area around the spine becomes narrow. It may affect the nerves surrounding the lower back, resulting in pain.

3. Wear and tear of the joints and ligaments

Normal wear and tear of the joints and ligaments cause difficulties in holding the spine in its proper position and this progresses with age. This may cause a vertebra to slide over another and affect the nerve endings, giving rise to pain.

Symptoms of lower back pain

The symptoms of lower back pain are usually a dull or excruciating pain in the lower back. It can also affect other parts of the body such as the hips and the legs. In case of severe pain, simple activities like walking, bending and sitting will be impaired.



The Causes and Symptoms of Chronic Lower Back Pain

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome is also known as Ulnar Neuropathy, a nerve compression syndrome where the Ulnar nerve, also known as the funny bone nerve, gets compressed due to heightened pressure or stretching. It can lead to numbness or a tingling sensation in little and ring fingers, sometimes pain in forearm and an overall weakness in the hand. Ulnar nerve is one of the three main nerves in the arm. It runs in a groove on the inner side of the elbow. Since it travels through a narrow space and has very little protective tissue, the nerve is quite vulnerable to compression.

Symptoms
The symptoms of this condition may range from mild to severe. Some of the mild symptoms include:

Numbness in little and ring finger as the fingers fall asleep
A tingling sensation, usually like the pinch of pins and needles in ring and little finger
Pain in forearm
Weakness in the hand
Some of the severe symptoms include:
Reduction in overall hand grip
A claw like deformity in hand
Wasting of muscles of the hand
Bending elbow over a long period of time like while using cell phone or during sleep can cause ulnar nerve compression. Resting the elbow for a long period over a hard surface can also cause an irritation of the nerve, leading to such symptoms. In some cases, the nerve snaps back and forth over a bony bump, resulting in an irritated nerve. People who undertake intense physical activity, especially using their arms, are more likely to develop this problem. Eg. baseball pitchers. Apart from this, people who have suffered from a dislocated elbow or have arthritis are also at risk.

Generally, doctors diagnose this condition through the symptoms. However, nerve tests are also conducted to check the level of nerve compression. Electromyography is a procedure in which electrodes are placed on the skin and muscles to measure muscle health. Determining muscle health and level of compression helps decide the mode of treatment. Generally, the symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome are managed through a conservative treatment. However, in cases of severe compression, surgery can be considered as an option to relieve pressure, moving nerve to the front of the elbow or removing a part of the bone.

For mild cases, a towel or a protective cover for elbow is recommended. The towel should be wrapped around the elbow loosely. An elbow splint can be worn at night to protect the elbow from being bent for long time.

How can a physical therapist help?
A physiotherapist has an essential role to play in treatment of this syndrome. A therapist can help the patient to learn ways of avoiding pressure to the nerve. After surgery, with restrictions of movement, a therapist can help achieve smooth recovery and movement of the elbow. Your physical therapist will determine the activities that bring on your symptoms. The recommendations at this point will be to avoid those activities for a time. Remember, the nerve is irritated and at times swollen. If the irritation and swelling are reduced, the symptoms should resolve.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome  - How Physiotherapy Can Help You?

Hip replacement surgery is a method wherein a defective hip joint is removed and replaced with an artificial hip joint. This procedure is only opted for after all the other treatments have failed to yield the desired effects. Hip replacement surgery removes damaged or diseased parts of a hip joint and replaces them with new, man-made parts. The goals of this surgery are to:

Relieve pain

Help the hip joint work better

Improve walking and other movements.

Who Should Have Hip Replacement Surgery?

The most common reason for hip replacement is osteoarthritis in the hip joint. Your doctor might also suggest this surgery if you have:

Rheumatoid arthritis (a disease that causes joint pain, stiffness, and swelling)

Osteonecrosis (a disease that causes the bone in joints to die)

Injury of the hip joint

Bone tumors that break down the hip joint.

Your doctor will likely suggest other treatments first, including:

Walking aids, such as a cane

An exercise program

Physical therapy

Medications.

These treatments may decrease hip pain and improve function. Sometimes the pain remains and makes daily activities hard to do. In this case, your doctor may order an x ray to look at the damage to the joint. If the x ray shows damage and your hip joint hurts, you may need a hip replacement.

The Procedure-

Hip replacement surgery is a procedure that can either be performed by traditional means or a minimally invasive procedure. The primary difference between the two procedures is the size of the incision. The procedure begins with the doctor administering local anesthesia, though in certain cases, general anesthesia is also administered.

An incision is then made along the hip and the muscles that are connected to the thigh bone are shifted, so that the hip joint is exposed.

An equipment is then used to remove the ball socket of the joint by cutting the thighbone.

The artificial joint is then fixed to the thighbone and it is allowed to adhere properly.

Once the joint is fixed, the ball of the thighbone is then put in the hip socket.

The fluids from the incision area are then allowed to drain.

The hip muscles are then put in place and the incision is closed.

Post -surgery-

After the surgery, the recovery stage begins. The period of hospital stay post-surgery usually lasts for 4-6 days. A drainage tube is attached to the bladder to get rid of waste products from the body. Physical therapy begins immediately after the surgery and you will be able to walk after a few days with walking aids. The physical therapy continues for a few months after the surgery.

After care-

It is advised to avoid activities that involve twisting your leg for at least half a year. You should also avoid crossing the leg along the mid portion of your body. Your physiotherapist will provide you with exercises that aid to help you recover. Avoid climbing stairs and sit on chairs that have strong back support.

Know Everything About Hip Replacement Surgery

Shin splints' is a condition, which is characterized by pain in the shin bone, the bone that is present in front of the leg. Shin splints tend to occur quite frequently in runners and dancers as their activities tend to stress the shin bone.


Causes
When excess force is applied to the shinbone, it may result in swelling of the muscles, causing pain and inflammation. It may also occur from stress reactions to fractures in the bone. Cracks tend to develop due to constant application of force in the bones. If the area is not well rested then these cracks will not heal and ultimately lead to a complete fracture.


Some other causes of shin splints are 
1. Muscle imbalance in the glutes or the thighs
2. Anatomical deformity such as flat foot
3. Not using proper form during training
4. Lack of flexibility
5. If you wear improper shoes during workouts, then it may lead to shin problems
6. Running downhill may lead to excessive stress on the shin leading to shin splints


Symptoms
The symptoms of shin splints are: 
1. You may experience swelling in the lower leg
2. A dull pain in the front portion of the leg
3. Tenderness around the shin area
4. Numbness around the shin area
5. Inflammation in the shin area
6. You may experience severe pain while walking


Treatment
The basic treatment for shin splints is the rice (rest, ice, compression and elevation) protocol. It means allowing the leg to rest, applying ice packs and wearing compression bandages. It is recommended to take rest and not exert the leg beyond a certain point to limit the damage. The complications that may result from shin splints are compartment syndrome, where there is buildup of pressure in the muscle. In some cases, where the muscle tears off from the bone, a surgery may be required to treat this condition.

Causes and Symptoms of Shin Splints

Muscle sprains and ligament tears are one of the most common injuries that medical practitioners encounter on a regular basis. These injuries are painful and can also limit one s movement, needless to say. However, there are simple things that can be done as soon as the injury happens so that the impact of the injury can be reduced, the symptoms minimised, and recovery improved.

A sprain is a tear of the ligament. The ligament is responsible for connecting the tissue strands that connect the bone to the muscle. When this sprain affects the muscle or even the tendon, it is known as a strain.
Sprains are very common and can occur due to a fall, twist, or impact. Most commonly affected areas are the ankles and wrists. Sprains happen when there is a pull or a twist of the ankle or the joint. This is very common in athletes and can be caused by repetitive motions in the knees, wrists, elbows, etc.

The most common symptom is pain, swelling, limited movement, and sometimes bruising. The degree of these injuries depends on its severity. The most common ways to treat such injuries are as follows.

RICE therapy: RICE is an acronym for rest, ice, compress, and elevate. Rest the affected area immediately by stopping any further activity. Ice the area using an ice wrap, with the ice cubes wrapped in a towel or a cotton cloth. Repeat this exercise if possible for every 20 minutes. This will reduce the swelling and pain. Compress the area using a sling or a wrap. This will help in reducing the swelling. Elevate the affected area if possible above the heart. This will help control the blood flow and thereby reduce the swelling and pain.
Pain control: If there is pain that needs medication, go for the non-steroidal drugs like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If it is a child that is injured, it is advisable to give non-aspirin ones.
Seek professional help: Most sprains can be self-limiting over a couple of days. However, it is advisable to seek medical help if there is significant pain, swelling, or numbness, open wounds or bruises, or inability to move the joint.
The doctor may decide to do the following.

Scanning or imaging to rule out any internal hard/soft tissue injury like fracture or tear
Immobilise the joint with a splint or a cast
Start physical therapy if there is severe pain and immobility
Surgical repair if there is a ligament injury
A word of caution to athletes or people who are very active physically is to go easy on the joint. In an eagerness to quickly get back to their routine, more and severe damage may be caused. This can be avoided by allowing time for complete healing.

Muscle & Ligament Sprain - Tips To Help You Deal With It!

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