Injuries to the Groin

All kinds of athletic activity carry the risk of suffering from a groin strain, being more usual in sporting activities which include common and forceful hip motion towards the centre of the body (hip adduction). Ice skating, hockey, swimming and soccer (football) are sports with higher incidences of groin injuries. Groin injuries may account for up to 5% of all muscular and tendinous injuries in soccer. If hip and groin pain presents in women, adolescents or children then particular and potentially more serious diagnoses should be considered.

Children with hip pain and a limp should be thoroughly investigated as the possible diagnoses include septic arthritis, a slipped epiphysis of the upper femur, Perthe's disease and avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Such conditions require the urgent attention of an orthopaedic surgical specialist. As pain can be referred from the hip to the knee region it is important for the surrounding joints to be assessed in the examination. In adolescent athletes the growth plate at the hip is a weaker area and may be involved in traumatic injuries.

The hip is the largest joint in the body and has an extensive range of motion. It is vulnerable to damage due to its weight bearing function and repetitive activities performed. Stiffness of the hip joint may be present some time before the incidence of a groin strain and a strain may occur more readily in the presence of reduced range. Acute groin injuries such as tears, strains or sprains of the muscles and tendons occur with forceful adduction of the hip, a movement towards the midline, or if the splits occurs accidentally. Chronic groin injuries present in activities which typically overuse the muscles, such as breaststroke and running.

A groin injury can be difficult to assess as the pain areas and the type of pain described vary and can be vague. There are many medical diagnoses which can be responsible for the symptom presentation of groin pain and these need to be kept in mind. Acute injuries are common and the most prevalent is the typical groin strain, a strain of one of the many muscles running from the pelvis to the femur, maintaining the femur in the centre line under movement. Likely injuring activities include sprinting, kicking, doing the splits, running and changing direction. Sharp groin pain with some thigh radiation is typical.

The junction of where the tendon and the muscle meet is the main region of injury with bleeding from the locally ruptured muscle fibres. The formation of fibrous tissue followed by scar is the method of healing, leaving the area vulnerable to repetitive injuries, with older sports people being at higher risk than younger athletes. If the injury is severe, part of the bone can come off with the tendon, causing an avulsion injury with surgical repair being required at times. Conservative treatment is the standard management with physiotherapists employing exercise, rest and ice.

The most commonly affected muscle in groin strains is one of the inner thigh muscles, the adductor longus. The injury can be in the belly of the muscle or at the junction of the tendon and the bone. Muscle belly injuries can be treated with gentle stretches once the acute period has settled, strengthening and getting back to activity as able. Tendon and bone injuries need a slower management programme with rest until the pain settles, gentle muscle work progressing to stretching and strengthening over a period of time and a gradual return to more stressful activities.

Other possibilities for the diagnosis of pain in the groin region include abdominal hernias, often not diagnosable by physical examination, managed conservatively to start with and then if necessary with surgical care. High energy physical events may cause fractures around the hip although older people may fracture with relatively trivial force. Severe pain and limitation of hip movements and gait should be noted and referral made if needed. Sporting activities which involve repeated impacts such as running can cause stress fractures of the pubic rami or the neck of the femur. Other conditions to consider are avulsion fractures if pain onset is quick and inflammation of a bursa.

Natural Arthritis And Joint Pain Relief Without The Side Effects Of Drugs

For many years arthritis and joint pain sufferers have put forward glucosamine as an excellent reliever of joint pain and arthritis. More and more research is suggesting glucosamine, combined with other natural supplements, is an effective treatment for the joint pain caused by both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Because Glucosamine occurs naturally in human tissues, it makes it a viable alternative to the synthetic drugs that have been marketed by the world of medicine for many years. Like glucosamine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs these drugs, known as NSAIDs, relieve the discomfort associated with arthritis and joint pain. However, the each has its own specific method of treating the pain.

NSAIDs, such as the now withdrawn Vioxx, can, in some cases, increase the risk of heart attacks and gastrointestinal bleeding. Such were the concerns about NSAIDs, the FDA targeted non-prescription NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen and advised the manufacturers to revise their labeling and provide more specific information about the potential risks to the heart and stomach of their products. In comparison the side-effects of glucosamine are practically non-existent

So, apart from one being drug based and one being natural, what are the difference between the two remedies?

While NSAIDs trick the body into not receiving pain signals, glucosamine works on a cellular level, going straight to the cause of the pain. Research indicates that glucosamine benefits painful joints by stimulating the production of proteins, which aid in the building and repairing of connective tissue in between the joints of the body.

As we age, our body's ability to produce natural glucosamine decreases, and our joints deteriorate through wear and tear. Because osteoarthritis in particular is often caused by such wear and tear, glucosamine benefits the body by slowing and even reversing the progression of the condition.

Experts agree that glucosamine has few side effects when taken in recommended doses. Though taking excessive amounts of glucosamine may cause nausea, diarrhea, heartburn, drowsiness, skin rash, and headache

Glucosamine is often used in conjunction with Devil's Claw in the natural treatment of arthritis and joint pain. Devil's Claw is a native plant of South West Africa which grows in the Kalahari Desert and produces brilliant red flowers with a woody barbed fruit. The name Devil's Claw is derived from the claw-like shape of its seed pods.

Natives of the area in which it is found have used the plant treat digestive problems but it also has anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic properties. Because of this it is now commonly utilized to manage many inflammatory joint problems such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. It is also used as a detox agent and liver cleanser. Other common benefits of Devil's Claw include the reduction of swelling and stiffness of inflamed joints and muscles.

If we look more closely at arthritis and joint pain we may understand that it is a natural but problematic cellular response to the stresses on the body. While the medical world has treatments to deal with the problems caused by arthritis and joint pain there is obviously a need to utilize natural components in order to minimize the side effects. There are no known side effects to taking Devil's Claw. In connection with proper diet, exercise, relaxation techniques, nutritional supplements, Devil's Claw and Glucosamine can allow you take charge of your own health and well being.

Exercise, wherever possible, is an excellent way of dealing with the problems caused by arthritis and joint pain. Gentle exercises such as yoga, pilates, swimming and walking are suitable.

There is natural relief on the market for people who do not want to take drugs and their side effects an example being JointEase Plus which combine Glucosamine, Devil's Claw and Boswellia. Such natural arthritis treatments are safe, effective and can allow you to have more control over your symptoms. Obviously it is always vital to seek professional medical advice should you wish to take any natural alternatives to ensure there are no contra-indications with other medication you may be taking.

Knee Arthritis - Everything You Needed to Know About Osteoarthritis

Knee arthritis, or osteoarthritis, is a common type of arthritis that occurs when the cartilage of the joints in the knees progressively wears and tears away. It is also called degenerative joint disease.

When an individual has knee arthritis, the cartilage that protects the joints wears away, leaving the bare bone in the joint exposed. Knee arthritis is usually most common in patients that are 50 years of age and above. It is also common in patients that are overweight, in which weight loss is advised to reduce the symptoms that they experience with osteoarthritis.

It has also been proven that knee arthritis is also genetic and runs in the family. Other causes of osteoarthritis include bone fractures, knee trauma, and ligament damage.

As with any other medical condition, the symptoms of knee arthritis tend to worsen as the condition itself worsens. Its symptoms however tend to fluctuate and do not worsen at a steady manner. The most common symptoms include:

Knee stiffness
Pain and discomfort
Limited range in movement
Swelling and soreness
Deformity of the joints

If you have are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is best to get a physical examination as well as X-rays from your doctor. These tests will help to evaluate the progression of your arthritis.

There are several treatments for osteoarthritis, from simple exercise to possible surgery. It all depends on the severity of the case of the patient. Treatment must be discussed appropriately with your doctor to determine what type of treatment must be used to help relieve osteoarthritis.

Treatments include the following:

Weight Loss - this is the most common treatment prescribed by doctors and is also the most important. This helps greatly because the less weight that is put on the joint, the less pain the individual will feel.

Use of Walking Aids - Patients are usually advised to use a cane or crutches so that less pressure will be put on the damaged joint.

Limiting Activities - When a patient is recovering from arthritis, it is best to limit some activities that contribute to pressure on the knee. Oftentimes, exercise in the water is advised to help lessen the strain on the knee, but still allow the patient to be able to engage in activities.

Physical Therapy - This is especially helpful so that the muscles around the knee joint will be stronger. Also, physical therapy prevents atrophy of the muscles.

Cortisone Injection - This helps in reducing the pain as well as the inflammation that may be present in the damaged joint.

Anti-Inflammatory Medicines - These prescription medications help to alleviate the pain and decrease the inflammation in the joints.

Partial Knee Replacement - This surgical procedure involves replacing one part of the knee and is advised for those only with limited knee arthritis.

Total Knee Replacement - This surgical procedure involves having the whole knee cartilage removed and replaced with an implant that is made of metal and plastic.

Arthritis Pain Relief - Specialized Rosehip Powder Proven To Sooth Aching Joints

Painful and stiff joints limits people's quality of life since if they are in pain or have stiff joints they can't continue to engage in normal activities that they love to do.? Although joint health products are available on the market, people are looking for effective and safe alternatives.? They are seeking alternatives since many do not respond to glucosamine-chondroitin, they do not want to take drugs that can have serious side effects, or they are looking for all natural solutions.? Now there is a scientifically proven alternative to provide this solution - specialized rosehip powder.

Specialized rosehip powder has an interesting history.? It began back in the early 90's when Erik Hansen, a Danish farmer who grew rosehips for making marmalade, discovered by chance that his specific rosehip powder alleviated his joint pain and improved his flexibility.? He then gave this powder to his friends and neighbors and they too were amazed with the positive results they obtained.? So Erik and his son, Torbjorn, visited the local hospital to seek out scientists to test out his product. ?Although the scientists were at first very skeptical they agree to test it in patients with osteoarthritis and to their surprise they observed that it did in fact alleviate joint pain and increase joint flexibility in these patients. So farmer Hansen decided to form a business to sell his rosehip powder. He went on to develop and patent a gentle drying process of the whole fruit to preserve the active ingredients. Since then, several well designed scientific studies involving a couple of hundred people have been undertaken and published in recognized scientific journals. Here are the key scientific findings:

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  82% of osteoarthritis subjects responded with reduced pain scores after 3 weeks on specialized rosehip powder compared to 49% of subjects consuming placebo or dummy pill.? A significant reduction in stiffness and improved ability to perform daily activities was also demonstrated with the specialized rosehip powder versus the placebo after 3 months.


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  In a 4 month study 65% of the osteoarthritis subjects versus only 44% on the placebo experienced a reduction in joint pain.? Joint mobility also improved significantly compared to the placebo.


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  In a 3 month study 66% of osteoarthritis subjects given specialized rosehip powder achieved joint relief compared to 36% of the subjects given placebo.


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  Specialized rosehip powder was also tested versus placebo in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and demonstrated to significantly improve their disability index scores at 6 months while scores for the placebo group worsened.?

Based on the proven science specialized rosehip powder had many benefits over other joint health products including the following:

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  Soothes achy joints.


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  Works fast, in as little as three weeks


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  Effective in four out of five people


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  Improved joint mobility and enhanced quality of life


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  100% natural


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  Not animal or shellfish derived


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  No major food allergens


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  No known drug interactions or side effects

Things You Need to Know About Joint Pain Relief

Joint pain can originate from different causes. When the condition is not inflammatory, the term used by medical practitioners is arthralgia while arthritis is the appropriate term when the condition is inflammatory. Although joint pain can be caused by a number of factors, common origins such as osteoarthritis brought about by aging are easier to address. There are many autoimmune factors which can bring about joint pain and usually, these are serious cases which need the proper diagnosis and treatment. These, medical practitioners can provide.

If the joint pain is deemed to be not life threatening and you would like to experience joint pain relief, you can opt for alternative medications which can give you good results ranging from short term to long term effects.

One of the most popular pain relief treatments is probably acupuncture. Before, acupuncture has been ignored by many physicians, but now, there are many studies to prove the efficacy of this oriental treatment. As a result, you can now find doctors in hospitals which are properly trained to perform acupuncture treatment. The reason why acupuncture can help in giving relief to painful joints has something to do with the release of chemical compounds in the body which are induced by the needles used in the therapy. Accordingly, there are certain points in the body which, when targeted, can shut down pain and trick the body into believing that it is not in pain.

Another natural way of alleviating joint pain is through the use of herbal medicines. Some of the herbs used in managing the pain of the joints include licorice, Indian ginseng, ginger, menthol and camphor. If you are familiar with the herb peperomia, it has been used by many Asian households to manage joint pain. The stalks and leaves of this herb are edible. When harvested, clean the herb in running water and you can eat it raw or as a salad. You can as well boil the 1 cup of the leaves or the stalks in 2 cups of water and drink it in the morning and the afternoon. If you are under a certain medication, consult first with your physician because taking herbals with other medications can bring forth chemical reactions that are can be harmful to your health.

In addition, you can avoid pain and give joint pain relief as well by avoiding certain foods that can give you pain. Some of the foods to avoid include dairy products, fatty foods, processed foods, meat, sugar, coffee, nuts, alcohol and leguminous foods. On the other hand, you might as well try fruits and green leafy vegetables rich in vitamin c. One example of vitamin c rich foods is berries. Berries can protect your joints from wear and tear and vitamin c is essential in formation of connective tissues.

You can get joint pain relief through many means, but it is also important that you understand the mechanism behind pain and how this pain can protect your body. The pain tells you that something is wrong so that you can act fast and do something to address what is wrong with your body. Also, preventive measures are important for your joints to be healthy and for them not to give you any pains.

Do You Suffer From Migrating Joint Pain?

Migrating joint pain can be frustrating, as well as painful. You start off with pain in one joint area, perhaps treat it at home or go to the doctor, only to have the pain migrate to a completely different area. What, you may wonder, is going on? Joint pain that moves from place to place can have a number of causes, some of which may be difficult to pinpoint.

Inflammation of the joints, and thus the pain that goes along with it, can increase with age and your level of fitness. Overworking your body or working out without a proper stretching routine can increase your risk of joint pain. You don't have to be elderly to have some form of rheumatoid arthritis, one of the primary suspects in migrating joint pain, so don't immediately dismiss that as a cause. Even something as simple as sleeping or standing wrong, or in a way that places stress on various joints can cause pain that appears to migrate from joint to joint.

Joint pain, whether it migrates or stays in one place, may be a symptom of other diseases, so if it is a constant irritation, take it seriously. Some of the diseases are not life-threatening for a healthy individual; the common cold or, more seriously, a flu can cause your joints to ache. However, migrating joint pain can also be symptoms of more serious ailments such as lupus, sickle cell disease, herpes complex and disorders of the nervous system.

What can you do about migrating joint pain? Pain medication is always one option, but if the pain continues and the care you receive does not quite alleviate it, you may want to search for other alternatives. Natural methods to alleviate pain and discomfort, such as a visit to a qualified acupuncturist, gentle stretching and heating pads also may help. Don't do anything harsh or extreme that may make the condition worse, if it is avoidable. If it is a sports related injury, staying away from the sport for a time, or simply easing into it, may cause the joint pain to lessen or disappear. If the cause of your pain is one of the forms of arthritis, good medical care, medication and/or natural remedies have a good chance of lessening the pain.

Whatever the cause or causes of your migrating joint pain, paying attention to it and taking care of yourself is key. Listen to your body and what it is trying to tell you. Working through pain and ignoring it is usually not the best way to go. Once your joints are inflamed, it may take a bit of time and work to bring them back to where they need to be, so make sure you can establish a good relationship with someone who knows what they are doing and that you trust, such as a doctor, nurse, acupuncturist, physical therapist. Once you know the cause of your pain, you'll have a better idea of who is best able to treat it.

How To Save Your Painful Hip From Surgery

Most people who experience pain in the hip, upper leg and buttock worry that they will need some type of hip surgery. In many cases, many patients have been told that a hip replacement is inevitable...not true. New research through clinical study has shown that most hips do not need to be replaced. In fact, with the right treatment the hip can be saved and the patient can return to normal daily activities.

The hip is a joint that is located on the upper side of your lower body. Just about the area of where the butt of the handle of the old cowboys gun would rest from his holster. Most people are under the assumption that the hip is below the lower back next to the buttocks. The hip is a ball and socket type of joint where the head of the femur that is shaped in a ball connects to the acetabulum the socket of the ilium. This joint is supported by numerous ligaments, tendons, fascia and muscles.

Many people are under the false impression that when the bone begins to degenerate to the point where it is causing pain that they have to have it replaced. Not so, because the area where you feel the pain is where the "damage ended up, not where it began." This is important to note because everyone including your doctor will continue to see the joint as the main contributor of pain and damage. As well I would agree that the patient experiences pain in the joint area I don't agree that this area is where the damage began. And if you don't properly address the area where the pain began then you will only continue to have a problem in the future.

Here is a case that came into my office that I feel is of interest to many hip patients suffering with pain. A man age 54 enters my office from referral of another parent whose son had great results with a knee problem. The man reported ongoing pain in his hip for years on and off however most recently he reported that the pain has gotten so bad it's stopping him from being able to work. When he entered my office it was apparent that he had a major weakness in his left hip area noticed by the way he was walking. He was unable to walk without severely dipping his hip which caused more pain with every step. The pain and restriction was so bad that he was unable to lift his leg high enough to put his sock on in a sitting position. He was thoroughly examined and the x-rays he brought in were reviewed and all treatments were explained to him.

His treatment consisted of relieving the distorted fascia in and around the joint area allowing for pain relief. Continued treatment consisted of reestablishing the nervous system communication to the muscles supporting the hip. What happens is that when this type of damage occurs muscles begin to shorten due to a diminished nerve or electrical flow to the muscles. When the muscles shorten they lose their ability to absorb force. When the muscles cannot properly absorb force, that force continues on to the joint. The joint and the tissue supporting it can't absorb the force so that joint then begins to aberrantly move causing inflammation in the joint. This causes pain and a signal to the brain to begin to shut things down in the area as a way of preventing further damage.

You see, the muscles of the body are designed to absorb force just like the shock absorbers of your car are designed to absorb force or impact from the road. You can imagine trying to drive in your car without shock absorbers...over time things will begin to break down in your car. The same goes for your hip, or any other joint for that matter, it will begin to breakdown over time causing degenerative joint disease, aka, arthritis. Now using the combined treatments of the MyoFascial Disruption Technique (MFDT) to return the disrupted fascia to normal a new treatment called the ARPWave is used to locate the exact area where the damage broke down to begin with.

Getting back to my patient with the hip problem we began using the ARPWave to locate where the damage was coming from and began to correct this problem. After the very first treatment the patient was able to life his leg to put his sock on. It was explained to him that he still has the degeneration in his hip but by correcting the fascial and muscular restrictions he was now able to move his leg and his hip didn't hurt. Obviously he needed continued treatment but to make a long story short, after correcting the damage area and developing a sound rehab program this man was able to return to his normal activities of living without pain and disability and without the recommended surgery.

If you are dealing with pain and disability of hip pain don't feel that surgery is the only way out. New discoveries in manual and bio-electrical treatment can not only relieve pain but in many cases save you from surgery.