What is Discogenic Lower Back Pain?
Between each vertebra of your spine sits a disc – a tough cushion that absorbs load and lets you bend and twist. “Discogenic” pain simply means pain that appears to come from one of these discs.
It often starts after lifting, bending or a sudden change in load, but can also build up gradually. Pain may be central in the lower back, or refer into the buttock or leg if a nearby nerve is irritated.
What is Non-Specific Lower Back Pain?
Non-specific low back pain means pain in the lower back that isn’t caused by a serious underlying problem and can’t be pinned to one structure. It accounts for the vast majority of back pain.
It is real, it can be painful, and it is also very common – around 8 in 10 adults will have it at some point in their life. It is usually triggered by an unfamiliar load, a stressful period, poor sleep, or just bad luck.
FAI - Hip Impingement Explained
To be diagnosed with FAI you have to have a symptomatic hip. We often find patients have some bony changes - there is a slight extra bit of bone on the ball (cam), the socket (pincer), or both. But just having these does not mean you have FAI. With deep bending, squatting or twisting, this can pinch the cartilage, the labrum or these bony changes and cause pain in the front of the hip or groin.
Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain (RCPRS) Explained
Rotator cuff related pain is the most common cause of shoulder pain. The tendons become irritated and sensitive – often after a change in load, a new activity, or a period of being run-down or under-slept. Because they work so closely together it has hard to guarantee which muscle/tendon, hence the generic name. It is rarely caused by a single “tear”, and most people get better without surgery.
What is Bursitis?
A bursa is a small, fluid-filled cushion that sits between bone and soft tissue. There are bursae throughout the body – the most common spots that get irritated are the shoulder, hip, knee, elbow and heel.
What is a Tendinopathy?
Tendons connect muscle to bone and transfer the forces that move you. Tendinopathy is the term used when a tendon becomes painful and a little less efficient at handling load – commonly the Achilles, patellar (knee), rotator cuff, hamstring, glute or elbow tendons.
It is almost always a load problem: the tendon has been asked to do more than it is currently used to. The good news is that tendons respond very well to the right kind of loading – they get stronger and less painful with rehab.
Return to Play vs Return to Performance
If you've ever recovered from a sports injury, chances are your goal was simple: get back on the field as fast as possible. And while getting you back to play is important, at Elite Performance Physios we believe it's only half the job.