Introduction to Swollen Knees

A swollen knee joint (Picture 1) is a common symptom arising either from knee or other disorders. Knee swelling can originate from almost any structure forming the joint, like ligaments, synovial membrane, bursae, etc., or from fluid accumulating within the knee, such as blood or pus. A swollen knee, for example from knee effusion, is not always painful. Though all knee swellings do not require urgent treatment, there are a few conditions, like septic arthritis, in which lack of prompt treatment can cause lifelong disability. Hence, it is always better to consult a physician or orthopedist, to find the exact cause of knee swelling.

Picture 1: Swollen left knee
(source: Wikimedia)

continue reading Swollen Knee – Causes and Treatment

What Is a Frozen Shoulder Syndrome?

Frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis (Latin adhere = to stick; capsulitis = inflammation of the (shoulder) capsule) is a condition causing pain and stiffness of the shoulder joint leading to profound disability and discomfort. This is a chronic condition, frequently associated with sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise. It generally affects the non-dominant shoulder of women in the 4th to 6th decade of life. In diabetics, adhesive capsulitis often both shoulders.
continue reading Why Frozen Shoulder Exercises ?

What Is a Torn Muscle?

Torn muscle or muscle strain refers to a partial or complete rupture of the fibers of the muscle, causing pain or inability to move a particular part of the body.

Causes

A torn muscle is often a result of a sudden unbalanced force acting on a particular muscle, which is beyond the normal capacity of the muscle, thus making it fall apart. This frequently occurs in athletics and outdoor sports. Untrained weightlifting, absence of warmup, blunt trauma, etc., are common factors leading to muscle tear.

continue reading Torn Muscle – Symptoms and Treatment

Tendo-Achilles Pain

The Achilles tendon is a strong tendon located at the back of the foot (Picture 1). Pain in this region is often seen in the 3rd – 5th decade of life and though very common, it is often not treated properly and therefore causing constant problems.

Achilles Tendon Anatomy

The Achilles tendon or, medically, tendo-calcaneus attaches the muscles gastrocnemius and soleus, located in the calf, to the heel bone called calcaneum. These muscles primarily function to push the fore-foot downward during walking or jumping.

In our day to day life, the Achilles tendon is exposed to stresses equivalent to twice or thrice the weight of the body, possibly causing a degeneration of the tendon and leading to two painful conditions:

• Achilles tendinosis – an inflammation of the tendon, causing pain
• Achilles tendon rupture – tear of the tendon, causing pain and disability to the affected foot.

continue reading Achilles Tendon Pain – Causes and Treatment