Blog

The Connect blog is where you will find practical, science-based information on injury prevention and recovery, improving your health and fitness and maximizing sports performance. Our goal is to share evidence combined with clinical and coaching experience to help you live, move and perform to the best of your ability.

Shoulder pain is a common complaint among people of all ages. It can be caused by various factors, but two often seen causes are atraumatic and traumatic shoulder instability. These conditions can lead to further shoulder injury and pain when moving the arm overhead or behind the back. In this blog post, we'll delve into what these conditions are, their risk factors, symptoms, and how physiotherapy can help manage them.Atraumatic Shoulder Instability: What is it?The shoulder is a complex joint, and its stability is crucial for our daily activities. Atraumatic Multidirectional Instability (MDI) is a condition where the shoulder joint

Welcome to our guide on Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS), commonly known as runner's knee. If you're experiencing knee pain during activities like walking, running, or even using stairs, you're not alone. PFPS, characterized by an ache in the front of your knee, is the leading cause of knee pain in the active population. With a prevalence of 12-15% in the overall population, and women being twice as likely to develop it, PFPS is a condition that affects many. This guide will help you understand the anatomy of your knee, the role of the patellofemoral joint, and how imbalances can lead

At Connect Physiotherapy & Exercise, we often encounter patients dealing with discomfort and pain in the knee because of injury to one or more of the cruciate ligaments. Often this injury is simply referred to as a knee sprain. These injuries, especially those involving the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), are a source of knee pain that can significantly impact an individual's mobility and quality of life.A ligament sprain occurs when the forces acting on the tissue exceed its viscoelastic capacity. This means the tissue is stretched beyond its ability to return to its original shape. Imagine stretching a rubber band

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a common condition that affects many people worldwide, causing hand numbness, pain, and discomfort. This blog post aims to provide a basic overview of CTS, its risk factors, affected tissues, and common symptoms. We'll also discuss the general physiotherapy treatment approach for managing this condition.What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)?Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a condition where the median nerve, a major nerve in your wrist, gets compressed under a structure called the flexor retinaculum. This compression can cause a tingling sensation or pain in your thumb, index finger, middle finger, and half of your ring

In the world of sports and physical activities, injuries are a common occurrence. One such injury that often goes unnoticed is the Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) sprain, a hand injury that primarily affects the thumb. This blog post aims to shed light on this thumb injury, its causes, symptoms, and the physiotherapy treatment approach.What is Ulnar Collateral Ligament (Thumb) Sprain?A UCL sprain, often referred to as "Skier’s Thumb" or "Gamekeeper’s Thumb", is a partial or complete tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in the thumb. This ligament consists of a proper and an accessory ligament and is the most common

Our hands are our lifelines. They allow us to interact with the world, express our ideas, and show affection. But what happens when pain or injury makes even the smallest movements uncomfortable or impossible? This is where hand therapy, a specialized branch of physiotherapy, comes into play.What is Hand Therapy?Hand therapy is a specialized form of physiotherapy and occupational therapy that focuses on the assessment and treatment of injuries and conditions of the hand and arm, optimizing its functional use. Given the complexities of the hand, having a therapist with advanced training in the hand/upper extremity to treat your injury

Are you an avid runner or cyclist who's been grappling with a nagging pain on the outer part of your knee? If so, you might be dealing with a condition known as Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome (ITBS). This common knee injury can put a damper on your active lifestyle, but with the right knowledge, you can understand and manage ITBS effectively.What is Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome (ITBS)?Imagine a band, not the musical kind, but a strip of fibrous tissue running down the side of your leg. This is the iliotibial band (ITB), a key player in providing lateral support to

Have you felt an intense pain in your elbow after a game of tennis or golf? You might be dealing with epicondylitis, commonly known as tennis elbow or golfer's elbow. Don't let the names fool you; these ailments aren't limited to athletes. Let's dive into the complexities of these conditions.Epicondylitis and its CausesEpicondylitis is associated with changes in the tendons connected to your elbow's epicondyles. These are the bony prominences on either side of your elbow. Often due to repetitive strain, these conditions cause pain and tenderness over the affected areas.Epicondylitis can arise from various circumstances:Traumatic Epicondylitis: This occurs with

At Connect Physiotherapy & Exercise, our experienced physiotherapists regularly encounter a condition known as Achilles tendinopathy. This inconvenient Achilles tendon pain affects many people, from seasoned athletes to casual walkers. This basic guide aims to help you understand Achilles tendinopathy, thereby enabling you to protect your health and maintain your active lifestyle.Achilles Tendinopathy: A Common Source of Achilles Tendon PainThe Achilles tendon, a sturdy band of connective tissue, links your calf muscles—the gastrocnemius and soleus—to your heel bone (posterior calcaneus). When this tendon experiences an injury—at the mid-portion or the insertion, or to varying degrees from a strain to a