Thursday, January 31, 2013

Skateboarding Injury Statistics

Posted by Unknown at 6:00 PM Labels: , 1 comments

skateboard injuries

Skateboarding and similar sports such as scooters, ripsticks all involve an inherent risk of falls. This leads to lower limb, upper limb and spinal or hip injuries.

What's your chances of injury?

The chance of a fractured wrist, hip etc increases with height, speed and adventurous challenges that skateboarders enjoy. Luckily, there is a higher change of soft tissue injuries such as bruises and sprains that repond favourably to physiotherapy or massage interventions.

However, if you suspect a fracture (broken bone) or head concussion, it is best to head to hospital for at least a precautionary Xray.

Skateboarding Injury Statistics

Skateboarding injuries have increased in correlation with the rise in popularity of the sport, and the injury pattern can expect to increase with the development of riskier skateboard tricks.

Skateboarding injuries often involve the wrist, ankle or face. Many injuries happen when you lose your balance, fall off the skateboard and land on an outstretched arm.

In a 2001 study, the most common fractures were of the ankle and wrist. Older patients had less severe injuries, mainly sprains and soft tissue injuries.

Most children were injured while skateboarding on ramps and at arenas; only 12 (9%) were injured while skateboarding on roads. Some 37% of the injuries occurred because of a loss of balance, and 26% because of a failed trick attempt. Falls caused by surface irregularities resulted in the highest proportion of the moderate injuries.

Overall, skateboarding is a fun and healthy sport that can give you a low-impact aerobic workout, plus an adrenaline rush!

General Skateboarding Injury Prevention Guidelines

  • Practice skateboarding safely and use protective equipment. 
  • Learn the basic skills of skateboarding, especially how to stop properly.
  • Use professionally designed "bowls" and "ramps" or other designated skateboarding areas that are located away from motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
  • Don't perform tricks beyond your ability.
  • Use a quality skateboard
  • Keep your skateboard in proper working order
  • Do not use headphones while skateboarding.
  • Never put more than one person on a skateboard.
  • Wear proper protective equipment

Skateboarding Protective Equipment

  • Helmet
  • Wrist guards
  • Knee and elbow pads
  • Shoes

Young Children Skateboarding

Skateboarding is not recommended for young children because they are still growing and do not yet have the physical skills and thinking ability a person needs to control a skateboard and ride it safely.

60% of Skateboard Injuries involve Children under age 15

Most of those injured are boys. 

At highest risk are:
  • Inexperienced skateboarders. Those who have been skating for less than one week suffer one-third of injuries, usually caused by falls.
  • Skateboarders who do not wear protective equipment. Every skateboarder should wear standard safety gear. This includes a helmet, wrist guards, elbow and knee pads and appropriate shoes. Skateboarders who perform tricks should use heavy duty gear.
  • Skateboarders who go near traffic or use homemade skateboard ramps. Both activities are particularly dangerous.
  • Experienced skateboarders who encounter unexpected surfaces or try risky stunts. 
  • Irregular riding surfaces, rocks or other debris can cause you to fall. You can stumble over twigs or fall down slopes. 
  • Wet pavements and rough or uneven surfaces can cause a wipeout. 
Avoid risky behaviour. Don't skateboard too fast or in dangerous or crowded locations.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):
  • Children under age 5 years old should never ride a skateboard.
  • Children aged 6 to 10 years old need close supervision from an adult or trustworthy adolescent whenever they ride a skateboard.
When young children are involved in skateboarding accidents, they are often injured severely. 

Skateboarding is a special risk for young children because they have:
  • A higher center of gravity, less development and poor balance. These factors make children more likely to fall and hurt their heads.
  • Slower reactions and less coordination than adults. Children are less able to break their falls.
  • Less skill and ability than they think. Children overestimate their skills and abilities and are inexperienced in judging speed, traffic and other risks.
Source: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00273

Common Skateboarding Injuries



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Common Treatments for Skateboarding Injuries


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Injury Prevention & Pain Relief Products

Skateboarding Injuries

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

How can the Back Brace 2060 help you?

Posted by Unknown at 5:58 PM Labels: , , , , 0 comments


The Abdominal Binder 2060 is a quality breathable fabric back brace for use while working, walking, sitting or driving.
A special elastic panel construction provides even back and abdominal support, while preventing a brace roll over common in other brands.
This back brace has contour adjust-ability between your waist and hips to easily accommodate for the person with an hourglass figure.

The Back Brace 2060 provides excellent relief for most Back Injuries

Your Size: To determine the size of the back brace measure around your waist.

Size Waist (cm) 
 S 61-82
 M 82-95
 L 95-105
 XL 105-115
 XXL 115+

Back Brace 2060

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

How to Manage a Back Pain from a Back Strain

Posted by Unknown at 5:22 PM Labels: , , , 0 comments


Muscle strains and ligament sprains and lumbar sprains are the most common causes of low back pain. 
  • A low back muscle strain occurs when the muscle fibres are abnormally stretched or torn. Muscle fatigue, excessive loads or poor lifting postures are the most common problems. Simple muscle strains usually improve within a day or two. Muscular pain lasting more than two or three days may require professional physiotherapy treatment to quickly relieve pain and promote healing.
  • A lumbar ligament sprain occurs when the ligaments (the tough bands of tissue that that limit the amount of movement at available at each spinal level), are torn from their attachments. Stretching ligaments too far or too quickly will tear them with subsequent bleeding into the surrounding tissues, causing swelling and pain. Awkward lifting, sports injuries and motor vehicle accidents are very common causes.
Differentiating a strain from a sprain can be difficult, as both injuries will show similar symptoms.
Most spinal practitioners refer to both injuries as a category called "Musculoligamentous Strain".
In general, it doesn't matter what you call the problem because the treatment and prognosis for both back muscular strains and ligament sprains is similar. And, usually both occur simultaneously.
If you don't know the cause of your back pain, you should have it evaluated by your health practitioner. Just as in other regions of the body, physiotherapy treatment is designed to hasten your muscle and ligament healing rate. Plus, they have some nifty tricks for quickly relieving your pain so that you can enjoy life again as soon as possible.

Warning Signs of a Serious Injury to the Spine include:


  • Loss of control of bladder or bowels
  • Progressive lower extremity weakness
  • Severe, constant pain
In these instances, please urgently consult your nearest hospital or doctor.Contact PhysioWorks or Book Online


Common Treatments for Back Pain

Thorough assessment and injury-appropriate treatment of a lumbar musculoligamentous injury is important to provide quick relief and prevent a recurrence.

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FAQs about Back Muscle/Ligament Strains



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Helpful Products for Back Muscle/Ligament Strains

Back Muscle Strain

Related Injuries


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Sunday, January 27, 2013

How to Play Injury-Free Tennis?

Posted by Unknown at 6:19 PM Labels: , , , 0 comments


Now that the Australian Open is over and you're keen to hit the tennis courts again, here's some timely information to help you to perform better on the tennis court.

Tennis a great sport. However, tennis can cause injury to many parts of the body due to the high speed on racquet impact, repetition and use of your spine, legs and especially your dominant arm. This can predispose you to a variety of shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, ankle, hip and spine injuries.
The best known tennis injury is tennis elbow - but, despite its name is relatively uncommon in tennis players!
Tennis is a sport that can be played on a variety of surfaces (grass, artificial grass, hard court surfaces and clay), which requires speed, power, endurance, balance and coordination. As a result, injuries can and do occur.

What the Incidence of Tennis Injury?

The rate of tennis injury in the general population is about five injuries per 1,000 hours of participation. Hospital admission for tennis injuries are at a rate of 33 injuries per 100,000 tennis players. Admittedly, the majority of tennis injuries do not require hospitalisation!

What are the Common Causes and Types of Tennis Injuries?

Lower limb (ankle, knee, and thigh) injuries are the most common tennis injuries. They are caused by the sprinting, stopping, pivoting, jarring and pounding nature of tennis. Lower limb tennis injuries are acute (e.g. ankle sprain) or chronic (e.g.knee tendonitis).

Upper limb (elbow, shoulder, wrist) injuries are usually caused by the high-velocity and repetitive arm movements required in tennis. These injuries tend to be overuse in nature (e.g. tennis elbow).

Back injuries and pain are common due to the rotation required to hit groundstrokes, and the combination of rotation, extension and lateral flexion involved in the serve.

Tennis Equipment

Use a tennis racquet suitable for your style of play, experience and size. Tennis players, especially those with arm and shoulder injuries, should seek professional advice when selecting a tennis racquet and choosing string tension. Ask an experienced tennis coach.

Check and maintain the playing surface to ensure it is in good condition and free of hazards.

Use tennis balls appropriate for your playing surface. Avoid using wet or flat/dead balls. 

Children & Tennis

Children should use equipment suitable to their age, size and skill level.

Encourage children and beginners to participate in modified tennis programs such as Hot Shots or similar beginner programs delivered by local clubs and coaches. These modifications introduce new players to tennis through modified equipment such as mini-nets and decompression balls. This will help new players develop good tennis skills and correct technique.

Use the Right Equipment

Seek professional advice on footwear. Most tennis shoes are more robust than running shoes due to the multidirectional requirements. Full board last shoes are common.

Foot arch correction exercises and/or orthotics may be required for some foot types.

Players with a history of joint injury should seek professional advice about taping or bracing before play. You can find selection of tennis related braces etc here.

Tennis Injury Risk Factors

  • Different court surfaces.
  • Condition of tennis balls used. Pros change them every seven games.
  • Type of tennis racquet.
  • Tennis shot technique.
  • Weather extremes.
  • Inappropriate footwear.
  • Poor physical conditioning.
  • The amount and level of participation.
  • Poor injury rehabilitation.

Other Tennis Tips

  • Good preparation is important.
  • Always warm up, stretch and cool down.
  • Maintain an adequate fitness level. Undertake conditioning and training exercises specific to the physical demands of tennis.
  • Good technique and practices will help prevent injury
  • Seek instruction from a qualified coach to develop correct skills and techniques.
  • Avoid over-repetition of any one type of shot. Practise a range of tennis strokes including groundstrokes, serves, return of serves, overhead smashes and volleys.

Common Tennis Injuries

Common Injury Treatment Information

Tennis Related Products

Tennis Injuries
This article is based on http://www.smartplay.com.au/ImageLibraryAssets/Resources/National/sport-specific-2008-Tennis-fact-sheet-nat.pdf

Saturday, January 26, 2013

What is a Pinched Nerve? What are its Symptoms?

Posted by Unknown at 3:45 PM Labels: , 0 comments


Nerve damage and the nerve pain and symptoms associated can occur when your nerve is pinched or entrapped.

Your pinched nerve usually occurs as a result of injury to structures adjacent to the nerve. The best known pinched nerve would be the sciatic nerve.



Pinched Nerve in Back

When your sciatic nerve in the back is pinched by a disc protrusion, arthritic spuror swelling from a muscle or ligament injury you are likely to experience referred leg pain. This is commonly known as sciatica.

Any compromise of the nerve space in your spinal column can lead to compression of the nerve endings. Pinching your nerve, regardless of the specific cause will result in a combination of nerve pain, sensory loss, muscle weakness or altered reflexes.

All of your normal nerve function can be affected by a pinched nerve.

Pinched Nerve in Neck





Nerves can be pinched anywhere in your body. The second most common nerves that can be pinched are your neck nerves.

Pinching your neck nerve can result in arm pain, weakness and altered reflexes.

A pinched neck nerve's symptoms can appear similar to common arm conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow and rotator cuff injury. If you have one of these conditions and it is not responding to treatment, maybe it has been misdiagnosed. Please seek quality professional advice for a thorough assessment.

A pinched nerve in the neck is known medically as a cervical radiculopathy. As you can see, it doesn't have a cool name like "sciatica" so it is less well known. If you are in marketing, maybe you could help out poor old cervical radiculopathy.

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Other Pinched Nerves

You can pinch a nerve anywhere in your body. The most likely region for a nerve pinch is where space is limited around the nerve eg tunnels the nerve passes through.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is an example of a pinched peripheral nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the front of your wrist.



How is a Pinched Nerve Diagnosed?

Pain is sent from your pinched nerve through the spinal cord nerves to your brain, where pain is interpreted.

Your physiotherapist or doctor can detect where your nerve is pinched by the symptoms that you describe.

They may refer you for further diagnostic testing such as a X-ray, CT scan, MRI or nerve conduction testing to confirm the diagnosis or to view the severity of the nerve pinch.

What are the Symptoms of a Pinched Nerve?

A significantly pinched nerve will effect you nerve function and can result in:
  • nerve pain 
  • altered sensation: paraesthesia (pins & needles) or anaesthesia (numbness) 
  • muscle weakness 
  • diminished reflexes 
  • loss of bladder or bowel function. 

These symptoms may require urgent medical attention. Please contact your doctor or physiotherapist ASAP!

Regardless of the cause of your pinched nerve, they are normally only pinched for a short-period of time.

Professional assessment and treatment is highly recommended for pinched nerves. The less time your nerve is pinch the quicker you can improve the health of your nerve and become pain-free!


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More info about: Pinched Nerve



Thursday, January 24, 2013

Heaps of Info about Tens Machines & Muscle Stim Units

Posted by Unknown at 2:24 PM Labels: , , , , , , 0 comments


Your TENS Machine Quick Links:

Neurotrac TENS Machine

TENS Machines


Private Health Insurance Rebate Information



TENS Machines

Digital TENS Machine                        

What is a TENS Machine?

A TENS machine provides an easy to use and drug free method of electronic pain relief.

TENS is an abbreviation of  Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. Transcutaneous means "across the skin". In simple terms, a TENS unit stimulates your nerves via an electrical current through your skin.

The TENS unit is usually a small battery operated box which produces pain relieving electrical pulses. Either two (single channel) or four (dual channel) self-adhesive electrodes are applied to the skin and attached to the TENS unit with lead wires.

Modified electrical pulses are then passed from the TENS unit, via the lead wires and electrodes, to the nerves which lie underneath the skin surface.

The electrodes are normally positioned over the area of pain but other more advanced applications may often prove better.  Your physiotherapist is an expert in the application of TENS.  

If you are in doubt, please ask your local physiotherapist for specific advice to assist your pain relief via TENS.

What Conditions can TENS Machines Help to Relieve Pain?

Your TENS machine is an electronic pain relieving machine that may assist you in the relief of pain associated with:

  • Childbirth (Labour Pain)
  • Period Pains
  • Phantom Limb Pain (Post-Amputation)

For specific advice on TENS electrode placements and TENS machine settings you are advised to seek the professional assistance of a health professional with expertise in the use of TENS machines such as your local physiotherapist.



TENS Machine & Electrodes

What are the Benefits of using a TENS Machine?

  • TENS does not involve the use of drugs.
  • TENS is a strong electronic pain reliever. 
  • TENS machines are powerful even though it is battery powered. 
  • TENS machines are portable because they are battery powered. You can take your TENS anywhere.
  • TENS is commonly used as an alternative to epidurals and other drugs during childbirth.


TENS Machines
 



Neurotrac TENS Machine

How Does a TENS Machine Relieve Your Pain?

A number of systematic reviews or meta-analyses have confirmed TENS to be effective for postoperative pain, osteoarthritis, and chronic musculoskeletal pain. 

Johnson M, Martinson, M (2006). "Efficacy of electrical nerve stimulation for chronic musculoskeletal pain: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial. Pain 130 (1): 157-165. doi:10.1016/j.pain.2007.02.007.PMID 17383095.


There are two main methods that a TENS machine uses to provide you with pain relief.


  • Pain Gating - Bombarding your nerves with "pleasant" sensations to override the pain signals. S
  • Stimulation of Chemical Release - Endogenous Opioids and Serotonin

If you'd like to know more about the scientific rationale, we've tried to explain it in as simple terms as possible in the following section. Otherwise you are free to skip to the next section:




TENS Machine - Pain Relief


Scientific Explanation of How TENS Relieves Your Pain.

Scientific studies show that high and low frequency TENS produce their effects by activation of opioid receptors in the central nervous system. 

Specifically, high frequency TENS activates delta-opioid receptors both in the spinal cord and supraspinally (in the medulla) while low frequency TENS activates beta-opioid receptors both in the spinal cord and supraspinally. 

High frequency TENS also reduces excitation of central neurons that transmit nociceptive information, reduces release of excitatory neurotransmitters (glutamate) and increases the release of inhibitory neurotransmitters (GABA) in the spinal cord, and activates muscarinic receptors centrally to produce analgesia (in effect, temporarily blocking the pain gate).

Low frequency TENS also releases serotonin and activates serotonin receptors in the spinal cord, releases GABA, and activates muscarinic receptors to reduce excitability of nociceptive neurons in the spinal cord.

Watson 2008, 12th ed. Electrotherapy:evidence-based practice.




Pain Gating

A TENS machine produces millions of tiny electrical impulses, which enter your body via electrodes placed on the skin near or over the painful region. These fast electrical impulses override the slower pain impulses and travel quickly along your nerves to your spinal cord and up to your brain.

Your brain is immediately bombarded by millions of pleasant electrical impulses. Your pain signals continue to be sent to your brain but travel along much slower (smaller diameter) nerve fibres. Since your brain can only interpret a limited amount of information, the pain signals are easily outnumbered by the pleasant high-speed TENS stimulation. This leads to pain relief and is known as the Gate Pain Control Theory.

The Gate Pain Control Theory was initially proposed in 1965 by Melzack and Wall based on the fact that small diameter nerve fibres carry pain stimuli through a 'gate mechanism' but larger diameter nerve fibres going through the same gate can inhibit the transmission of the smaller nerves carrying the pain signal.

It is generally recognised that the 'Pain Gate' can be shut by stimulating nerves responsible for carrying the touch signal (mechanoreceptors), which enables the relief of pain through massage techniques, rubbing, and also the application of tens machines, wheat bags and ice packs.


Gate Pain Theory for TENS Machines

Why Does Rubbing Your Skin Help to Ease Pain?

"Pain Gating" is very simply described by using the example of when you "bump your elbow", and then rub it to ease the pain. When your elbow is bumped, pain messages travel to your brain. Here the messages are interpreted as "Pain". Rubbing this same elbow vigorously will stimulate an abundance of new "non-painful" messages to travel to the brain.

Luckily, your brain can only interpret a limited amount of information. If the "rubbing" sensations outnumber the painful "bump" sensations, the brain will interpret the sensations as being from the pain-free rubbing source rather than the painful bump. In other words, the rubbing sensations have 'bombarded the gate', so painful messages cannot get through.

We all know from personal experience, the faster we rub our bumped elbow, the better the results. Your TENS works in just the same way ... it's just rubs you via an electrical stimulation instead.  Plus, it doesn't get as tired!

When using TENS to 'close the gate' we use Continuous (or Conventional) Tens Mode. Continuous TENS mode produces a gentle and pleasant 'tingling' under and between the electrodes. The 'tingle' sensation helps to block the pain by closing the 'pain gate' and slowing down the painful nerve signals - this produces analgesia (numbness) in the painful area that can last for a few hours.




TENS Machines Stimulate an Endorphin & Serotonin Release

Pain can also be relieved by stimulating the release of endogenous opioids (endorphins, enkephalins, and dynorphins), which are pain-relieving chemicals.  Opioids are naturally occurring hormones in the body. They are released in response to an injury or physical stress to reduce your pain and promote a feeling of wellbeing. 

Opioids have a similar chemical structure to Morphine, which explains their strong painkilling effects.  

Serotonin is also found in the central nervous system (CNS). Serotonin is a well-known contributor to feelings of well-being; it is known as a "happiness hormone" despite not actually being a hormone. Serotonin is synthesized in serotonergic neurons in the CNS where it has various functions. Modulation of serotonin at synapses is thought to be a major action of several classes of pharmacological antidepressants.

Serotonin is also a growth factor for some types of cells, which may give it a role in wound healing.

Acupuncture and low frequency TENS machines stimulate the release of endogenous opioids and serotonin. The opioids then inhibit the transmission of pain signals in the substantia gelatinosa part of the spinal cord - what is often referred to as the spinal root part of the nerve.

When using TENS to help activate opioids release we use a low frequency Burst Tens Mode. Burst mode produces a rhythmic pulse which should be strong enough to produce a 'twitch' in the muscles underneath the electrodes. This muscle 'twitch' helps to release the opioids and also helps the pain 'switches' in the brain to be activated through muscular and reflex activity.

What Gives You a Natural High?

A great example of endorphin release is the natural 'high' that runners and other athletes experience after 30 minutes of sustained exercise. Much like exercise, the endorphin release stimulated by the TENS may take up to 30 minutes or more to take a noticeable effect. 

The "feel good" effect may last several hours before endorphin levels in the body need to be increased again.


TENS Machines
 

Where NOT to Use Your TENS Machine

TENS or EMS electrodes should NEVER be placed: 


  • Across your eyes (intraocular pressure) or brain


  • On the front of your neck due to the risk of acute hypotension (through a vasovagal reflex) or even a laryngospasm

  • Through the chest (using a front and rear of chest wall electrode positions). Either side of your spinal column is permitted.

  • Across an artificial cardiac pacemaker (or other indwelling stimulator, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), including across its leads) due to risk of interference and failure of the implanted device. Serious accidents have been recorded in cases when this principle was not observed. 
    On open wounds or broken skin areas (although it can be placed around wounds.

  • Over a malignant tumour (based on experiments where electricity promotes cell growth).

  • Directly over the spinal column (although it can be placed either side of your spinal column).

  • Internally, except for specific applications of dental, vaginal, and anal stimulation that employ specialised TENS units.
  • Epilepsy patients
  • Pregnant Uterus

  • On areas of numb skin/decreased sensation TENS should be used with caution because it's likely less effective due to nerve damage. It may also cause skin irritation due to the inability to feel currents until they are too high. 

  • Areas of Infection. There's an unknown level of risk when placing electrodes over an infection (possible spreading due to muscle contractions). Cross contamination with the electrodes themselves is of greater concern. 

TENS Machines



How to Choose the Best TENS Machine for Your Needs

Choosing the Best TENS machine or EMS (Electric Muscle Stimulator) for your individual needs is often difficult.

To help you, PhysioWorks has designed a Quick Online Interactive TENS/EMS Decision Tool.

Simply answer a few questions and the Best Tens Machine or EMS (Electric Muscle Stimulator) foryour specific needs will be identified.

It only takes 5 seconds!

Click Here to discover yours.




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