Patient Education

Common Ailments/Injuries:
Stress Fracture
A stress fracture is sometimes referred to as a hairline style of break in a bone caused by overuse.

Arthritis
A sweeping term for over 200 conditions. The most common forms are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The former is a reaction of the nervous system, attacking joints and other parts of the body when no threat is present, causing inflammation and damage to the bursae of joints. Osteoarthritis is the most common and is known as “wear and tear” arthritis, as cartilage in joints becomes damaged and worn away.

There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis; exercise is recommended for both common forms.

Bursitis
This is the term used for the inflammation of the bursa, a sac that decreases friction between joints moving in different directions. When the bursa becomes enflamed, any further use of it causes increased irritation. This condition arises from overuse of a repetitive movement or continuous and excessive pressure, like resting your elbows on a desktop for long periods of time.

There are many types of bursitis (elbow, knee, shoulder, hip, etc), but most diagnoses are consistent in that each show tenderness and swelling over the bursa along with pain during movement. Inflamed bursas carry a small chance of getting infected. If you experience open wounds around the area of bursitis, redness, or a fever/chills, contact a doctor immediately.

Treating bursitis is a matter of resting and protecting the affected area. Ice it down, take anti-inflammatory medicines to control swelling, with physical therapy & cortisone injections available for persistent cases. Physical rehab may be recommended for serious cases.

Tendonitis
Tendons connect muscles to bones. Tendonitis occurs when any of these tendons become inflamed and using the muscles becomes irritating and painful.

Overuse is the most common reason tendonitis may develop. Another cause is aging, as tendons lose their ability to stretch as you age. Tenderness over the tendon, pain and swelling of the tendon are common symptoms of tendonitis; different kinds of tendonitis (wrist, Achilles, knee, shoulder) need different treatments, but most require RICE therapy and in some cases, physical therapy.

Glossary:
Osteoporosis