There are lots of causes of knee pain and the first thing we need to do in clinic is assess and diagnose the correct injury. If you can do some reading before you come into clinic you may find it easier to describe your symptoms. Here are some of the main causes of knee pain.. Traumatic injuries: Injuries such as sprains, strains, ligament tears (e.g., ACL or MCL tears), meniscus tears, and fractures can lead to knee pain. These injuries often result from accidents, sports activities, or falls. Overuse or Repetitive Stress: Continuous or excessive use of the knee joint, such as in running ..read more

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Last weekend I went on a course for Osteopaths and Physiotherapists about running injuries. One of the most interesting take home points was that many injuries have now been renamed as this can effect the effects on patients. So for example ITB syndrome how now been renamed ITB pain as even using the word ‘syndrome’ implies long term, unchanging pain and this alone can effect how people feel. Achilles Tendinopathy is now the official term for what sued to be called achilles tendinitis or achilles tendinosis as these 2 terms imply specific biological processes that are unclear and change the ..read more

  What are shin splints? Shin splits is a bit of a catch-all term, and refers to any pain associated with the shins - whether this is on the inside or outside of the leg. Pain from shin splits will occur in conjunction with exercise. Symptoms of shin splints There is one main symptom of shin splints: this is a sharp pain in the shin while exercising. With mild shin splints, this pain may subside once you stop exercising. However, if shin pain is left untreated, it may become an ongoing problem that you notice 24 hours a day. As well as soreness and tenderness, shin splints might also mani ..read more

  What causes hip pain in runners? Hip pain is a common complaint from many athletes, particularly runners. It can be caused by a number of different factors - from muscle imbalances and strains to osteoarthritis and stress fractures. One particularly common cause of hip pain while running is a condition known as Tronchanteric Bursitis.  What is Trochanteric Bursitis? Tronchanteric Bursitis is a classic injury among runners, which causes hip pain and discomfort. It is caused by inflammation of the small, fluid-filled sac at the outside of the hip joint, called the bursa. Bursas are f ..read more

  Today’s topic of conversation is runner’s knee, which is known in medical terms as ITB syndrome. So we're going to talk through why ITB syndrome occurs, how we diagnose it, as well as some exercises to help runner’s knee and make sure it doesn’t come back. What is runner’s knee, or ITB syndrome? ITB syndrome, also known as runner’s knee, stands for iliotibial band syndrome. The iliotibial band is a fibrous band that runs down the outside of the upper leg, attaching to the femoral condyle in the knee. ITBS occurs when this band becomes inflamed, and presents as a burning sensation during ..read more

  Today we're going to be discussing stress fractures - one of the more serious running injuries, but also one that isn’t particularly well understood by a lot of runners. Therefore, we'll go back to basics - what is a stress fracture, what's happening in the body, and who's more like to get one. We’ll also cover where stress fractures might commonly happen, and then, importantly, we'll also look at what you can do at home to minimise the risks. What is a stress fracture? A stress fracture is a small crack in the bone. It’s a type of accumulation injury - one which builds up gradually ove ..read more

  What is the Achilles tendon? The Achilles tendon is a tough, fibrous tissue that attaches the calf muscles - the gastrocnemius - to the calcaneus, or heel, bone. The Achilles is the biggest and strongest tendon in the body, meaning any injury to it is noticeable and very painful. What is Achilles tendonitis? Achilles tendonitis is simply an inflammation of the Achilles tendon, which causes intense pain and discomfort. Achilles tendonitis in runners is common because the calf muscles - and therefore the Achilles tendon - are being overworked while running. When you run, the vast majority ..read more

  What is plantar fasciitis? Plantar fasciitis usually presents as a burning pain around the heel. This is caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia - a fibrous band that comes from the heel (the calcaneus bone) all the way down to the toes. It’s fairly common, and causes people to feel heel pain when running, walking or standing. Causes of plantar fasciitis in runners The reason plantar fasciitis commonly occurs in runners is that the calf muscles aren't quite strong enough for the job. They then put pressure on the calcaneus (or heel) bone, just pulling it slightly. This therefore pu ..read more