We are often asked whether running causes knee osteoarthritis (OA). This is a common misconception after experiencing knee pain following activity. What is osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition that affects the whole joint including bone, cartilage, ligaments and muscles. Xray imaging comonly reveals age related changes in these areas of your knee, but these…

Delayed onset muscle soreness (D.O.M.S) is a medical condition that is characterised by the stiffness, tenderness and pain in muscles several hours after performing a strenuous physical activity. When muscles are stressed, small microscopic tears occur in the ligaments, coupled with the stiffness and inflammation that accompany these tears, causing the pain and fatigue. The…

Winter sports are resuming and this means increased running loads for many children and adolescents. We are seeing many kids present to the clinic with overuse injuries of the lower limb – often categorized as growing pains. So what should you do when your child starts complaining of knee pain, heel pain, hip pain? Should…

The Iliotibial band is a thick tendon that inserts on the outside of your knee.  The function of the Iliotibial band is to help slow movement and torque at your knee during impact.  Iliotibial band syndrome is a common cause of knee pain in runners. The cause is repetitive trauma to the Iliotibial band insertion…

This blog outlines my successful return to sport from an Achilles Tendinopathy. To read more about the onset of my tendon pathology and early management, read part one and part two of my blog. After two weeks of careful, graduated strengthening exercises, with no recurrence of Achilles tendon pain, I decided I was ready to…

When an acutely overloaded tendon produces pain, we term the condition a ‘reactive tendinopathy’. The historical term ‘tendonitis’ implies that an inflammatory response is present, however current research suggests this may not be correct. Whether inflammation is present or not, the fact is that the tendon has been overloaded and is reacting in an unpleasant…

Many of us have experienced frustrating interruptions to our favourite sport, fitness, hobbies and leisure activities due to tendon pain. Overloading a tendon, by changing or increasing activity levels may cause a tendinopathy, previously termed tendonitis. Tendons connect muscle to bone and are found all throughout the body. Tendinopathies commonly occur in the shoulder (rotator…