Quiz

Common Injury Conditions and Their Management

• Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS) or shin splints is caused by multiple factors including being female, overweight, less running experience, and dynamic pronation during gait.
• The symptoms of MTSS include pain during walking and stance phase loading, posteromedial tibial point tenderness, and pain that subsides with inactivity.
• Clinician therapeutic interventions for MTSS include determining the root cause, requesting an MRI or bone scan to rule out stress fracture, and addressing any insulting factors or conditions.
• Patient self-treatment interventions for MTSS include performing self-release and PNF stretching of the pretibial muscles and gastrocnemius soleus complex.
• Achilles Tendinopathy (Noninsertional) is common in athletic and recreational athletes and can occur due to training error, pathological biomechanical alterations during the gait cycle, or sudden shoe or surface change.
• The symptoms of Achilles Tendinopathy include pain during walking and toe-off during gait, diffuse swelling on the sides of the tendon, and point tenderness at the calcaneal insertion site or within the tendon.
• Clinician therapeutic interventions for Achilles Tendinopathy include determining the root cause, requesting a radiograph to rule out Haglund's deformity and calcaneal fracture, and addressing any insulting factors or conditions.
• Patient self-treatment interventions for Achilles Tendinopathy include performing self-release and PNF stretching of the Achilles tendon and gastrocnemius soleus complex.
• Treatment points and sequencing for both MTSS and Achilles Tendinopathy include scanning and treating specific muscles and structures in a specific order, followed by PRT, thermal ultrasound or laser, PNF stretching, and myofascial massage.
• Additional interventions for Achilles Tendinopathy include the use of KT Tape, low-intensity pulsed ultrasound self-adhesive device, ISTM, and eccentric strengthening protocol.
• Clinicians should consider performing a biomechanical evaluation of gait if a training, movement, or biomechanical error is suspected.
• Patients can use temporary or custom orthotics to unload the affected area during the initial phase of rehabilitation.
• Patients should slowly progress to dynamic physical activity through aquatic therapy or antigravity-assisted running devices.