April 8, 2010 | Posted by Jonathan Blood Smyth
The condition known as thoracic outlet syndrome is not one thing but the name given to a collection of symptoms, all ascribed to problems with compression of blood vessels or nerves as they pass through the anatomical thoracic outlet. This structure is outlined by the first rib, the collar bone or clavicle and the neck scalene muscles, with the neurological and vascular structures passing through it to reach the axilla and travel into the arm. Diagnosis of these related conditions is difficult and there is little clarity or consensus about them.
Categories: Back Pain | 
Tags: alternative medicine, Back Injury, Back Pain, Back Pain relief, Frozen Shoulder, health, injury management, Pain Management, physical fitness, physiotherapists, physiotherapy, Piriformis Syndrome, sciatica | 
No Comments »
March 31, 2010 | Posted by Jonathan Blood Smyth
Benign MS is a term used to describe some patients’ presentations but appears mostly incorrect as almost all patients suffer a continual progression of their disability, in some cases without particular attacks. Truly benign episodes are those attacks which occur and then remit without repetition in the future, which is rare. It is vital to have a realistic viewpoint from the perspective of the doctors, relatives and patients so that the correct information can be given and the correct treatments followed. Patients report mental and physical tiredness which is different from the more typical tiredness of functional over effort or poor sleep.
Categories: Back Pain | Tags: alternative medicine, Back Injury, Back Pain, Back Pain relief, Frozen Shoulder, health, injury management, Pain Management, physical fitness, physiotherapists, physiotherapy, Piriformis Syndrome, sciatica | No Comments »
March 30, 2010 | Posted by Jonathan Blood Smyth
Multiple Sclerosis or MS is a disease of the central nervous system characterised by inflammation and demyelination, the gradual loss of the insulation material around the nerves known as myelin. Sclerosis is the term given to describe the thickened and scarred small lesions which occur in the nerve tracts. The disease is continually active and forms new lesions regularly leading to gradually increasing levels of disability. The most common form of MS is the relapsing and remitting kind, meaning there are periods of worsening followed by at least partial recoveries.
Categories: Back Pain | Tags: alternative medicine, Back Injury, Back Pain, Back Pain relief, Frozen Shoulder, health, injury management, Pain Management, physical fitness, physiotherapists, physiotherapy, Piriformis Syndrome, sciatica | No Comments »
March 30, 2010 | Posted by Jonathan Blood Smyth
Up to the six week point after injury the remodelling phase can be said to occur and by this stage the physiotherapist will test the patient to see if they can contract the hamstring muscle against maximal resistance without pain or anxiety. The physio will then ask the patient to perform isotonic muscle contractions in the prone position with larger number of repetitions and lower weights initially, progressing to higher weights and fewer repetitions if no pain is experienced. It is advisable not to be too fast in increasing the weight and force applied to prevent a recurrent injury or a chronic strain.
Categories: Back Pain | Tags: alternative medicine, Back Injury, Back Pain, Back Pain relief, Frozen Shoulder, health, injury management, Pain Management, physical fitness, physiotherapists, physiotherapy, Piriformis Syndrome, sciatica | No Comments »
March 30, 2010 | Posted by Jonathan Blood Smyth
One of the most frequent chronic diseases of children and the most common rheumatological condition in this group is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. This is not one disorder but a group of interrelated disorders which all exhibit inflammatory changes in the joints. The triggering factors for these diseases have not been uncovered and it has proven hard to delineate one particular type of condition from another due to the complex genetic factors. While it is often called JRA, there is a move to standardise the naming of these diseases into juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Categories: Back Pain | Tags: alternative medicine, Back Injury, Back Pain, Back Pain relief, Frozen Shoulder, health, injury management, Pain Management, physical fitness, physiotherapists, physiotherapy, Piriformis Syndrome, sciatica | No Comments »
March 26, 2010 | Posted by Jonathan Blood Smyth
When a smaller number of joints are affected (the oligoarticular type) there are four or fewer joints exhibiting arthritic symptoms with the larger joints being preferentially affected. Such children do not present as unwell although they may limp when asked to walk. Arthritis may be confined to one hip but if the symptoms are limited to this joint then an alternative diagnosis should be sought as this is much more common, with Perthes disease a typical outcome. Arthritis over some time develops weakness and loss of bulk in the main knee muscles and a knee bend contracture partly due to tightening of the hamstrings. A discrepancy in length of legs can develop if arthritis affects only one leg.
Categories: Back Pain | Tags: alternative medicine, Back Injury, Back Pain, Back Pain relief, Frozen Shoulder, health, injury management, Pain Management, physical fitness, physiotherapists, physiotherapy, Piriformis Syndrome, sciatica | No Comments »
March 26, 2010 | Posted by Jonathan Blood Smyth
The first and vital issue is the correct diagnosis of the injury and its severity as this will dictate the whole course of the treatment and indicate the speed of progression to be expected and the length of time taken until the injury is recovered. Physiotherapy is the main treatment course and the physiotherapist will judge the programme depending on the severity of the injury and how long it is since it has occurred. There are no reliable scientific guidelines for this kind of injury management and rehabilitation so the programme will need to be individually set and adjusted to suit the changing needs of the patient.
Categories: Back Pain | Tags: alternative medicine, Back Injury, Back Pain, Back Pain relief, Frozen Shoulder, health, injury management, Pain Management, physical fitness, physiotherapists, physiotherapy, Piriformis Syndrome, sciatica | No Comments »
March 21, 2010 | Posted by Jonathan Blood Smyth
In the back of the upper leg (the posterior thigh) lie the hamstrings, a group of muscles which are particularly vulnerable to injuries and ongoing pain problems in athletic individuals. The upper part of the muscles in the upper thigh and lower buttock are injured much more often than other parts, with the outer side of the leg also more affected. There are no normal names for the three muscles involved which are called the semitendinosus, biceps femoris and semimembranosus, with the biceps femoris being most often involved.
Categories: Back Pain | Tags: alternative medicine, Back Injury, Back Pain, Back Pain relief, Frozen Shoulder, health, injury management, Pain Management, physical fitness, physiotherapists, physiotherapy, Piriformis Syndrome, sciatica | No Comments »
March 20, 2010 | Posted by Jonathan Blood Smyth
Cystic fibrosis is the most common fatal and inherited disease in Caucasian populations, caused by the acquisition of two recessive genes from carriers who are typically not affected themselves. The abnormality affects the so-called exocrine glands and the most obvious and troublesome feature is the development of chronic infections of the respiratory tract. Many organ systems are affected by the glandular abnormalities but it is the eventual failure of the respiratory system which is the most common cause of death.
Categories: Back Pain | Tags: alternative medicine, Back Injury, Back Pain, Back Pain relief, Frozen Shoulder, health, injury management, Pain Management, physical fitness, physiotherapists, physiotherapy, Piriformis Syndrome, sciatica | No Comments »
March 16, 2010 | Posted by Jonathan Blood Smyth
Hampstead Heath this morning was beautiful but treacherous and all of a sudden, as is usual with such things, I fell over on the ice. One minute I was walking along chatting and the next minute I was on my bottom as my wrist, forearm, shoulder and buttock took a bash. I slid sideways fast in the fall, thereby distributing the blow to several parts of my body and reducing its impact, entirely by luck. So I escaped joining the legions of people who, over the UK Christmas festivities, suffered a fall as the weather managed to concoct a particularly tricky combination of sub-zero temperatures and sharp showers.
Categories: Back Pain | Tags: alternative medicine, Back Injury, Back Pain, Back Pain relief, Frozen Shoulder, health, injury management, Pain Management, physical fitness, physiotherapists, physiotherapy, Piriformis Syndrome, sciatica | No Comments »