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SPORTS PLUS PHYSICAL THERAPY CLINIC |
MILLWOODS • MILLBOURNE • WALKER LAKES
EDUCATION
Looking for more information on your condition?
Send us your Physical Therapy question on the contact form below.
Send us your Physical Therapy question on the contact form below.
Q. Can you please tell me what "double crush injury" is? How it is different from tennis elbow and neck spondylosis?
A: First of all, we have specific nerves that travel from the spine to specific muscles. (ie. nerves from the neck go to arm, wrist, hands, fingers). Nerves conduct impulses that transmit signals for the muscle to contract, as well as provide light touch sensation. Whenever there is inflammation or compression of that nerve, whether it is due to swelling in the area, thickening of tissues in the boundary of that nerve (due to trauma), that nerve will not fire impulses the way it normally should. People with nerve conduction issues will progressively display weakness, a sense of heaviness, and altered sensitivity in the muscle(s) the nerve supplies.
Double crush is actually a theory that was proposed in the 1970's whereby it is hypothesized that compression along the top portion of a nerve could predispose the lower end of that nerve to compression injury. As a result, some people who have a nerve entrapment/compression injury in the neck which is barely symptomatic, could later on develop symptoms in the arm or hand (due to the nerve traveling down from the neck, supplying the hand), due to the higher risk of compression injury at that second site. As a result of this "double" lesion along the same nerve, the patient will begin to complain of pain, weakness, and/or pins and needles in that region of the muscle.
Spondylosis is a condition also known as degenerative joint disease, whereby as we get older, our spinal joints become stiffer, less resilient, and joint space reduces. Since the spinal nerves exit the spine via a narrow hole, whenever we have these age related changes in the joints, the nerves may become compressed, leaving some patients complaining of weakness, pain, and/or pins/needles in the muscle (similar to above). However, with spondylosis, usually there is a compressive lesion at only one part of the nerve pathway, unlike the two points in double crush.
Tennis elbow is also known as lateral epicondylitis, which means inflammation of the forearm tendons on the back of the elbow. True tennis elbow could result from overuse of the wrist and hand owing to repetitive overuse and overstrain of these wrist extensor (back of forearm) tendons. However, other conditions could mimic tennis elbow---for example, spondylosis of a specific spinal nerve in the neck (C6-7), which supplies the back of the forearm, could also cause pain and weakness in the forearm, causing patients to experience the same pain that one would normally experience with true tennis elbow. To accurately diagnose a true tennis elbow, the physiotherapist would perform a scan of the neck and spinal joints before moving onto the elbow to distinguish the true cause of the forearm symptoms.
Written by Alan Lam, DScPT (c), MScPT, BSc
A: First of all, we have specific nerves that travel from the spine to specific muscles. (ie. nerves from the neck go to arm, wrist, hands, fingers). Nerves conduct impulses that transmit signals for the muscle to contract, as well as provide light touch sensation. Whenever there is inflammation or compression of that nerve, whether it is due to swelling in the area, thickening of tissues in the boundary of that nerve (due to trauma), that nerve will not fire impulses the way it normally should. People with nerve conduction issues will progressively display weakness, a sense of heaviness, and altered sensitivity in the muscle(s) the nerve supplies.
Double crush is actually a theory that was proposed in the 1970's whereby it is hypothesized that compression along the top portion of a nerve could predispose the lower end of that nerve to compression injury. As a result, some people who have a nerve entrapment/compression injury in the neck which is barely symptomatic, could later on develop symptoms in the arm or hand (due to the nerve traveling down from the neck, supplying the hand), due to the higher risk of compression injury at that second site. As a result of this "double" lesion along the same nerve, the patient will begin to complain of pain, weakness, and/or pins and needles in that region of the muscle.
Spondylosis is a condition also known as degenerative joint disease, whereby as we get older, our spinal joints become stiffer, less resilient, and joint space reduces. Since the spinal nerves exit the spine via a narrow hole, whenever we have these age related changes in the joints, the nerves may become compressed, leaving some patients complaining of weakness, pain, and/or pins/needles in the muscle (similar to above). However, with spondylosis, usually there is a compressive lesion at only one part of the nerve pathway, unlike the two points in double crush.
Tennis elbow is also known as lateral epicondylitis, which means inflammation of the forearm tendons on the back of the elbow. True tennis elbow could result from overuse of the wrist and hand owing to repetitive overuse and overstrain of these wrist extensor (back of forearm) tendons. However, other conditions could mimic tennis elbow---for example, spondylosis of a specific spinal nerve in the neck (C6-7), which supplies the back of the forearm, could also cause pain and weakness in the forearm, causing patients to experience the same pain that one would normally experience with true tennis elbow. To accurately diagnose a true tennis elbow, the physiotherapist would perform a scan of the neck and spinal joints before moving onto the elbow to distinguish the true cause of the forearm symptoms.
Written by Alan Lam, DScPT (c), MScPT, BSc
Q. I was told that I have plantar fasciitis. Can you explain what causes it?
A. There are many causes for foot pain, one of the causes is plantar fasciitis.
Anyone with plantar fasciitis should also have a lower back assessment as referred pain from the back to the foot is another cause for foot pain and is often misdiagnosed as plantar fasciitis.
For a good explanation about causes of true plantar fasciitis, see following link from Footmaxx.
Q. I have spinal stenosis. What is the best approach, surgery or physical therapy ?
A: Research shows that the outcome after 2 years is just as effective for physical therapy as for spinal surgery . Surgery should be the last resort.
To read the article go to
A: Research shows that the outcome after 2 years is just as effective for physical therapy as for spinal surgery . Surgery should be the last resort.
To read the article go to
Q: I want to reduce my sugar consumption so I can lose some weight and be more active. Any advice?
A: To motivate you, see science project below called Rethink your drink.
Also watch CBC's documentary which was aired on The Fifth Estate called "The Secrets of Sugar."
You will find it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDaYa0AB8TQ
A: To motivate you, see science project below called Rethink your drink.
Also watch CBC's documentary which was aired on The Fifth Estate called "The Secrets of Sugar."
You will find it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDaYa0AB8TQ
Suzanne Somers
Here's an image of a very smart girl's school science project to show the amount of hidden
sugars in various drinks. If only all of our kids knew that high sugar intake is a contributing
factor to weight gain and a host of health issues such as heart disease and diabetes.
Sure hope she got an A – she deserves it!
(photo credit: Inspiration For Mind Body)
Here's an image of a very smart girl's school science project to show the amount of hidden
sugars in various drinks. If only all of our kids knew that high sugar intake is a contributing
factor to weight gain and a host of health issues such as heart disease and diabetes.
Sure hope she got an A – she deserves it!
(photo credit: Inspiration For Mind Body)
Q: Why do I have to exercise?
A: Did you know that "failing to take enough exercise is as deadly as smoking, researchers say."
A: Did you know that "failing to take enough exercise is as deadly as smoking, researchers say."
Why being a couch potato is as bad for you as smoking:
