What is an Achilles Tendon Rupture?
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 [...]
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Football Injuries
What is Achilles Tendonitis?
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 refers to inflammation of the Achilles tendon as [...]
What is a Calf Pull, Strain, or Tear?
The “calf muscle” is actually comprised of two muscles — the gastrocnemius and the soleus — located on the back of the lower leg. These muscles are together known as the triceps surae. A strained/torn calf occurs when the calf muscle is separated from the Achilles tendon. This [...]
What is a Concussion?
The term concussion refers to a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) resulting in a temporary loss of awareness or consciousness. 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, [...]
What is Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
The term delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is used to describe the discomfort that is often felt 24-72 hours after exercising. While DOMS is often attributed to a buildup of lactic acid, there is little empirical support for this view.
Rather, it seems more likely that DOMS is a byproduct of [...]
What is a Dislocated Shoulder?
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.
Shoulder dislocation can potentially result in the [...]
What is Golfer’s Elbow?
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 [...]
What is a Groin Pull, Strain, or Tear?
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 [...]
What is a Hamstring Pull, Strain, or Tear?
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 [...]
What are Heel Spurs?
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 [...]
What is a High Ankle Sprain?
The term “high ankle sprain” refers to the stretching and/or tearing of the syndesmotic ligaments of the ankle. The syndesmotic ligaments of the ankle include the anterior tibiofibular ligament, the interosseous ligament, and the posterior-fibular ligaments. These three ligaments connect the tibia (i.e., shin bone) and fibula (i.e., calf bone) [...]
Please see golfer’s elbow for a description of, symptoms associated with, and treatment options for Little League elbow.
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a chronic foot injury that is common in athletes that perform repetitive flexion/dorsiflexion of the toes. The plantar fascia is the tough, fibrous band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the base of the toes. With each step, the plantar fascia is stretched, and the arch flattens [...]
What is a Separated Shoulder?
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). A mild separation is sometimes referred to as a sprained AC joint.
A shoulder [...]
What is Sever’s Disease?
Sever’s disease, also know as calcaneal apophysitis, is a common source of heel pain in young, growing athletes. The most common symptoms are pain or tenderness in one or both heels, discomfort when the heel is squeezed, and more severe pain when walking, running, jumping, or playing sports.
The pain associated with Sever’s [...]
Please see separated shoulder for a description of, symptoms associated with, and treatment options for a sprained AC joint.
What is a Sprained Ankle?
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; as in the case of a [...]
What is Tennis Elbow?
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). Tennis elbow ranks as the number one reason that people seek medical help for elbow [...]
What is a Torn Rotator Cuff?
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 [...]
What is Turf Toe?
A metatarsalphalangeal joint sprain is an injury to the connective tissue between the foot and one of the toes at the base of the toe. When this injury involves the big toe, it is known as “turf toe.” This sort of injury occurs as a result of hyperextension of the toe.
Turf toe [...]