Self Help Tool
Learn about specific conditions and how to manage them. Please click the area causing you issues on the human map below. This will bring up a selection of possible conditions causing your pain and dysfunction, including how you can best manage them.
Cervical Myelopathy
Coccydynia
Coccydynia is the medical term used to describe pain in your coccyx (tail bone).
Femoral Nerve Neuropathy
Cluster Headaches
Sports Hernia
Scoliosis
Medial Collateral Ligament Sprain
Radial Tunnel Syndrome
Radial tunnel syndrome affects a nerve (posterior interosseous) running on the outer aspect of the upper forearm and most commonly presents with pain.
Lumbar Spine Osteoarthritis (OA)
Peroneal Tendinopathy
Quadricep Strain
Raynaud’s
Cervical Radiculopathy
Nerve pain originating from the neck and causing pain, altered sensation or weakness in the arm.
Degenerative Meniscus
Seen to be normal as we age, but in some situations can result in knee aches, pain or joint swelling.
Mechanical Back Pain
Lower back pain caused by structures in the back, such as joints, bones and soft tissues.
Cervical Arterial Dysfunction
An umbrella term for rare vascular (blood vessles) problems of the neck.
Lumbar Disc Injury
Lumbar discs sit between each of the bones of the spine. Problems can occur when these discs become irritated.
Spondylolysis
An injury due to a stress fracture through part of a vertebra known as the pars interarticularis of the lumbar vertebrae (lower back).
Shoulder Impingement
Shoulder impingement is an umbrella term used to describe a variety of conditions that can cause pain in the shoulder.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
Pain originating from the sacroiliac joint at the base of your back where the spine joins the pelvis.
Long Covid
A term to describe the effects of Covid-19 that continue for weeks or months beyond the initial illness.
Degenerative Rotator Cuff Tear
A common cause of shoulder issues as we age, one of the tendons that insert into the shoulder joint can be damaged.
Femoral Nerve Radiculopathy
This is where the nerve that supplies the front of the leg is irritated and causes pain/numbess.
Cervical Disc Dysfunction
Disk/joint-related issues that can cause pain, weakness and altered sensation in the neck and arms.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis
Narrowing of the spaces through which the neck spinal nerves travel which can result in weakness, pain and reduced function.
Ankylosing Spondylitis
A rare condition that can cause joint stiffness and pain, often worse at night and when resting.
Calcific Tendinopathy
A rare condition causing pain and loss of free movement in tendons and joints.
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
A condition presenting with pain in the arm as a result of compression of structures around the neck/shoulder.
Trigger Finger
A tendon issue in the palm of the hand affecting the ability to open/close the fingers, often giving a ‘stuck or triggering’ effect when trying to open.
Thumb Osteoarthritis
Thumb osteoarthritis (OA) is degeneration of the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones that form the joint, which creates pain and stiffness.
Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction
The main arch of the foot loses its height giving the appearance that the foot sits flat on the floor.
Bowed Knees
A condition in which the legs are bowed outwards leaving a greater space in between your knees.
Acute Torticollis
Sometimes referred to as “wry neck”, this is a condition causing muscle spasms and associated neck pain.
Spondylolisthesis
A term to describe a slight change in position (usually further forward) of one vertebra relative to the vertebrae below.
Ankle Fractures
When a bone, or bones, that make up the ankle joint are stressed beyond their capability resulting in a fracture.
Migraines
Often described as a moderate or severe headache felt as a throbbing pain on one side of the head.
Hip Osteoarthritis
Common age-related changes to the structure of the hip joint may be associated with pain, stiffness and loss of function.
Meralgia Paraesthetica
Pain on the outside thigh caused by compression and inflammation of the nerve that supplies that area
Benign Joint Hypermobility Syndrome
Common age related changes to the structure of the knee joint which may be associated with pain, stiffness and loss of function.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS)
Knee pain around the kneecap usually worse in static positions, squatting or kneeling.
Giant Cell / Temporal Arteritis
Giant cell arteritis, also known as Temporal Arteritis, is an inflammatory disease affecting the large blood vessels of the scalp, neck and arms. The most common symptom being a “headache like no other”.
Iliotibial Band Syndrome
Presents as pain on the outside of the knee, normally occurring because of overload due to prolonged or repeated bouts of exercise.
Knee Osteoarthritis
Common age related changes to the structure of the knee joint which may be associated with pain, stiffness and loss of function.
Ischial Tuberosity Bursitis
Gout
Gout is a common type of inflammatory arthritis that causes sudden severe joint pain. Excess uric acid collects and forms crystals within the joint causing irritation and swelling (1).
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)
A rare inflammatory condition affecting joints and surrounding muscles, usually affecting hips and shoulders.
Adolescent Hip Dysplasia
A result of an abnormality of the hip joint anatomy resulting in pain in the hip with occasional instability.
Hip Replacement Surgery
Replacement of the hip ball and socket joint, typically as a result of severe osteoarthritis or trauma.
Clavicle Fracture
Acromioclavicular Joint Injury
Injury to a small joint at the end of the collar bone (clavicle)/top of your shoulder.
Adolescent Shin Pain
A common complaint in adolescent athletes affecting those aged between 12-18.
Achilles Tendon Rupture
A rupture of the Achilles tendon is a complete tear of the tendon which is the tendon that joins your calf muscles to your foot.
Plica Syndrome
A plica is a congenital extension of the synovial membrane that is formed in the knee during the embryological phase of development, dividing the knee up into three distinct sections. Normally, the tissue starts to fold inwards and is eventually reabsorbed to leave a joint cavity between the tibia (shin bone) and femur (thigh bone). However, sometimes this does not happen meaning that the cavity remains incomplete. As a result, plica can be observed which represents partial completion of inward folds of the membrane. There are four types of plica that can become problematic in the knee depending on the location of your pain. The most common is the medial patellar plica
Patellar Tendinopathy
Knee pain at the lower border of the kneecap which is also known as ‘jumper’s knee’.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
A rare condition where a person experiences persistent, severe and debilitating pain, often with a complex cause.
Shoulder Osteoarthritis (OA)
Age and activity related changes to the joints of the shoulder which can lead to pain and stiffness.
Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy
Pain and weakness under the buttock or the back of your upper thigh caused by tendon issues.
Osgood-Schlatter Disease
Pain in an area just below the knee on the shin bone, often with a lump.
Meniscus Injury
Structural knee injury, triggered either by a tear or through wear and tear.
Knee Replacement Surgery
Replacement of the knee hinge joint, typically as a result of severe osteoarthritis or trauma.
High Ankle Sprain (Ankle Syndesmosis Injury)
An ankle syndesmosis injury (also known as a high ankle sprain) is a rare cause of ankle pain following an injury, usually those involving sports such as football, basketball or athletics (1).
Cauda Equina Syndrome
A rare but serious condition as a result of compression of the nerves at the base of your spine.
Plantar Fasciitis
Pain under the foot caused by irritation of the plantar fascia (a strong band of tissue that runs along the sole of the foot).
Tibialis Posterior Tendinopathy
A condition involving injury to the tendon found around the bone at the inner side of the ankle leading to pain and weakness.
Trochanteric Bursitis
A term used to describe pain and inflammation of tissues that are located on the outside of the upper thigh/hip.
Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injury
The lateral collateral ligament is a strong ligament on the outside of the knee. A tear will only occur during a high force impact or twisting motion.
Fat Pad Impingement
A rare condition affecting the adipose (fat) tissue that sits under the kneecap (patella) between the joint spaces of the knee.
Quadriceps Tendinopathy
The quadriceps are a group of four muscles found on the anterior thigh. They work together to extend, straighten, the knee, and control knee flexion when you are on your feet. They play an important role in activities such as running, standing up from a chair, climbing stairs, jumping, squatting and kicking.
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Narrowing of the spaces though which lower back spinal nerves travel which can result in weakness, pain and reduced function.
Shoulder Labrum Injury
The shoulder is a ball and socket joint. Most shoulder movement occurs where the ball at the top of your arm bone (the Humerus) fits into the socket (the Glenoid). The socket is part of the shoulder blade (Scapula) which is where the rest of the movement comes from and plays a key role in the functionality of our upper limbs.
Deep Gluteal/Piriformis Syndrome
A presentation where the sciatic nerve is irritated in the buttock and can cause sciatica symptoms in the leg.
Shoulder Dislocation
An injury in which your upper arm bone ‘pops out’ of the cup-shaped socket of your shoulder blade.
Diastasis Recti Abdominis (DRA)
A condition related to pregnancy when the abdominal muscles are overstretched.
Fibromyalgia
A persistent pain disorder that is characterised by pain affecting multiple areas of the body.
Pelvic Girdle Pain
Typically seen in pregnancy causing pain, instability and limitation of mobility and functioning of the pelvic joints.
Low Back Pain and Sciatica
Sciatica is a symptom describing pain and/or pins and needles down the back of the leg.
Fifth Metatarsal Fracture
The metatarsals are the long bones in the feet that start in the middle and run to the base of the toes. A fifth metatarsal fracture is a break to the bone on the very outside of the foot.
Perthes’ Disease
Perthes’ disease is a condition affecting the hip joint in children. Part or all of the femoral head loses its blood supply and may become misshapen.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury
Injury to a major stability ligmant in the knee, normally occuring following a significant twisting injury.
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Cubital tunnel syndrome describes a condition where the ulnar nerve is compressed or irritated in a tunnel known as the cubital tunnel on the inside of the elbow.
Axial Spondyloarthritis
It’s a painful, progressive form of inflammatory arthritis. It mainly affects the spine but can also affect other joints, tendons and ligaments. It can also give you symptoms such as foot pain (known as plantar fasciitis) heel pain (Achilles tendinopathy), bowel irritation and red eye (Uveitis).
Pes Anserine Bursitis
The Pes Anserine complex consists of the Gracillis, Sartorious and Semitendinosis muscles. These three muscles merge to create a conjoined tendon which inserts at the inner aspect of the knee just to the side of the tibial tuberosity (as pictured). This shared tendon complex is often referred to the ‘Goose’s foot’ owing to the Latin origin of the anatomical structure. Pes Anserine bursitis is an inflammatory condition of the bursa -which is small structure containing fluid serving to reduce friction, situated below the Pes Anserinus tendon complex.
Olecranon Bursitis
A bursa is a small sac-like structure that contains a small amount of fluid, we have numerous bursae in many joints of our body. The main function of a bursa is to act as a ‘shock absorber’ between the bones and tendons or even skin, and to reduce friction where structures move over one another.
Baker’s Cyst
Swelling in the popliteal space (space behind the knee) that causes a visible lump.
Whiplash Disorders
An injury which typically occurs following a road traffic collision, often affecting the soft tissues of the neck.
Achilles Tendinopathy
Pain, swelling and stiffness of the achilles tendon that joins the heel bone to the calf muscles.
Tennis Elbow/Common Extensor Tendinopathy
A condition that causes pain around the outside of the elbow. It often happens after overuse of the muscles of the forearm.
Lateral Ankle Sprain
Pain and loss of function following an injury to the ligaments on the outside of the ankle.
Neck Pain
Pain or discomfort in the neck and/or shoulder girdle, with or without pain referred to the arms.
Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome
A condition affecting the tendons that insert into outside of the hip. A common cause of pain felt around the hip and pelvis.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Increased pressure irritating a nerve in the wrist, causing pain, loss of strength and tingling in your hand.
De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is a condition caused by inflammation of two tendons that control the movement of the thumb and their tendon sheath.
Femoroacetabular Impingement
A condition that results in pain in the groin, hip and down the front of the thigh.
Frozen Shoulder
An insidious (no clear cause), painful/stiff condition of the shoulder persisting for more than 3 months.
Golfer’s Elbow/Common Flexor Tendinopathy
A tendon overuse injury that causes pain at the inside of the elbow.
Biceps Tendinopathy
A tendon-related issue affecting the long bicep tenon at the front of the shoulder.
Hip Labral Tear
Hip labral tears involve damage to the fibro-cartilage rim (socket) of the ‘ball and socket’ hip joint.
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
The inability to effectively control the muscles of your pelvic floor, leading to issues with continence and pain.
Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) Injury
The triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) is located on the ulna side (little finger side) of the wrist joint. The TFCC is formed from several components: Articular Disc, Meniscus Homologue, Ulnocarpal ligament, Dorsal & Volar Radioulnar ligament and Extensor Carpi Ulnaris sheath. Its function is to stabilise the wrist joint.
Hamstring Strain/Tear
Hamstring strain injuries are an over-stretch or tear to one or more of the muscles located at the back of the thigh.
Patella Dislocation
Patella dislocation is a knee injury in which the patella (kneecap) slips out of its normal position. The most common direction for the kneecap to dislocate is laterally or the outside. This is commonly associated with pain and swelling in the soft tissue tissues which may have been stretched or damaged. Patella subluxation refers to when the kneecap is only partially displaced and then returns to it’s normal location.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the broad term given to pain, stiffness and loss of a function of a joint due to changes associated with the ageing process.