Clinical Musings

Recently I saw a young patient that plays in several sports that require ballistic shoulder movements. She stated that while pitching in fast pitch softball she felt severe pain in her shoulder and that the pain has not improved in the past few weeks. She stated that the shoulder was tender to the touch and with movement above shoulder height.

Many orthopedist and therapist would suspect only ONE thing… rotator cuff injury. Although this is a perfectly logical assumption one must always be thorough in their examination.

Upon inspection, one thing was immediately noticeable. There was a significant difference in shoulder height (painful shoulder was lower). With this it was important to see if the scapulas are winging. Upon inspection it was seen that her affected shoulder was in fact “winging”.

There are varying degrees of winging and illustrated below is an example of a severely winging scapula. A winging scapula could be more subtle and less noticeable.  

http://muscletesting.com/blog/2011/08/12/experiments-in-muscle-testing-episode-02-the-problem-with-bicep-curls/rhomboids-3/

These signs should raise a little red flag in a good diagnostician for a possible long thoracic nerve injury.

The long thoracic nerve innervated that serratus anterior (SA). The SA is a muscle that looks much like the serrated end of a knife thus its name the serratus anterior.

http://conornordengren.com/category/anatomy/

The SA is only of the primary stabilizer for the shoulder complex in conjunction with the RTC therefore a long thoracic nerve palsy could be misdiagnosed as a  rotator cuff injury. The primary way of differentiating the two is to look for the winging scapula. 

Working on stabilization of the shoulder and using functional electric stimulation to cause activation of the SA has been very effective in treating this patient. In just two weeks she has improved 70% and is now able to raise her shoulder above her head with no pain. 

Ouch My Knee Hurts!!! [Part 6] Posterior Knee Pain

Posterior knee pain is very common and can be very limiting to ones daily life. Posterior knee pain could mean many things but it is important to narrow down the most likely causes. One of the most common causes of posterior knee pain are the hamstrings. 

The hamstrings are one of the biggest and most important muscles in the legs. Due to its anatomical structure the hamstrings are somewhat vulnerable to injury. The hamstring is the main muscle responsible for bending the knee. The hamstrings come from the hip and attaches to the posterior knee, making the hamstring one of the longest muscles in the body. Not only are the hamstrings very long but they are also very thin. This structure makes the hamstrings vulnerable to injury in a way that we do not see in larger more bulky muscles.  A hamstring strain to this insertion of the hamstrings (Zone 1) could cause pretty significant posterior knee pain.

The posterior knee also contains the origin of the calf (Zone 4), the gastrocnemius.  The calf is the muscle that is used to push the foot down and is integral to jumping. The calf is a very powerful muscle that is strained less often at the origin.

The popliteus is a small muscle in the posterior knee (Zone 2) which helps to “unlock” the knee during walking and running activities. This muscle can become irritated and cause some pain with knee bending and straightening. 

All of these issues are soft tissue issues that will improve with therapy and rest. Ice is also very helpful in reducing pain and irritation in the short run.  Hamstring strains could be more problematic depending on the severity of the injury. See a physical therapist for more information about your knee pain. 

Ouch My Knee!! [Part 5] From Joe Shmo to Joe DiMaggio

Knee pain in Zone 4a and 4b could mean a few things but the main thing we want to rule out is a meniscus tear. If you watch ESPN or listen to sports radio I am sure you have heard of a professional athlete be sidelined for months because of this issue. I also want to make it clear that you do not have to be a professional athlete to suffer from a meniscus tear; this can affect everyone from Joe Shmo to Joe DiMaggio.

 

What is the Meniscus?

The meniscus is the cartilage in the knee that acts as a cushion and a guide for the knee while it bends and straightens. The meniscus is integral for the structure and function of the knee. If you think of the meniscus as both the shocks and the struts of your car, you could imagine how important they are. The meniscus is made up of two C shaped pieces of cartilage that face each other. This creates a deeper surface for the femur (which is the thigh bone) to connect to the tibia (shin bone).

The front and back of the meniscus are delineated into two different sections; therefore there are actually 4 parts of the meniscus that can be damaged. There is the anterior medial meniscus (AMm), posterior medial meniscus (PMm), anterior lateral meniscus (ALm) and the posterior lateral meniscus (PLm). Each one of these parts of the meniscus can be torn or injured. Please note that all drawings of anatomy are incredibly crude and were done by yours truly. Please look up images online if you are confused by my drawings.

What does a meniscus tear feel like?

• Pain with jumping, running and sometimes walking
• Possible clicking or popping in the knee when putting weight on the knee
• Pain feels like stiffness that you can’t shake off
• Feels like the knee is stuck and won’t unlock
• Knee sometimes buckles
• Pain when bending the knee

What causes a meniscus tear?

A meniscus tear is usually caused by more traumatic means such as slipping or getting your foot stuck while performing a cutting maneuver, performing deep heavy squats with improper form, planting the foot while turning the hips at high speeds. More mundane activities could also result in meniscus tears such as, slipping and falling, stepping down a stair incorrectly.

What is another condition that can be confused for a meniscus tear?

• Patella femoral syndrome (See past posts)
• Patella tendinitis (See past posts)
• ACL,MCL,LCL tear (See future posts)

What are some treatments?

Treatment options depend mostly on injury severity. Minor and moderate tears are usually treated with Physical therapy and conservative care. More severe tears could possibly require surgery if physical therapy is ineffective. Please consult with a professional before running to get an MRI or into surgery. Many times physical therapy can help to restore full function without the need for surgery.  

Ouch My Knee!! [Part 4]

Pain in Zone 3 could possibly be caused by quadriceps tendinitis. Quadriceps tendinitis is not as common as some other conditions, however, this condition could cause some serious pain while running and jumping.

The quadriceps are a very large muscle group which are made up of four different heads (illustrated below). 

 The quadriceps are primarily used to extend the knee into a straight position, but are used in basically all standing or dynamic movements (like jumping, sprinting, running, walking). The quadriceps are literally the most important muscles in the leg. This huge muscle group that is so important to all movement of the knee attaches to a very small bone called the patella. 

We have talked about the patella at length in other blogs so I encourage you to read parts 1-3 of this series. One interesting part of the patella tendon is that it is what is called a “floating bone” meaning that the patella or “knee cap” has no ligamentous connection to any other bone. Most bones are connected to other bones through ligaments but the patella actually just "floats" on top of the knee connected to the body only though tendons [Just as a side, tendons connect bone to muscle, whereas, ligaments  generally connect bone to bone].

Because the patella does not have any ligamentous connection it is a very unstable bone that is affected by outside forces such as the quadriceps. The attachment of the quadriceps on the patella is called the patella tendon (muscle to bone).  

What does quad tendinitis feel like?

• Pain right above the patella with running, jumping, squatting
• Swelling in the area above patella
• Pain when rubbing quad tendon

What causes quad tendinitis?

• Lack of stretching of the quadriceps
• Lack of warming up of said muscle group
• Inappropriate progression of exercise program

What is another condition that could be confused with quad tendinitis?

 A quad strain could be confused with quadriceps tendinitis. A quadriceps strain will cause pain in the thigh could be located anywhere along the quadriceps muscles.

What are some treatments?

Resting and ice are a good first step, but all painful activities should be stopped. Stretching and modification to exercise should be considered when returning to exercise routine. Of course physical therapy is a good option if pain does not improve in 3 weeks. 

Ouch My Knee!! [Part 3]

Knee pain in Zone 2 is very common and can possibly mean patella femoral syndrome. Now this might sound really scary but it’s a very common and benign condition (if you are inactive). For those of you that exercise regularly this can be a very difficult condition to deal with.

What is Patella femoral syndrome?

The patella is your “knee cap” is that bone that sort of floats on top of your knee. This “floating bone” is connected to your body by muscle, tendon, and fascia (or tissue). The patella is supposed to move in a predictable and set “tract” that should not deviate. The patella sort of glides along set grooves that dictate where it should go, this occurs when you bend and straighten the knee.  If you ever have seen floats during the Thanksgiving Day parade you will notice that the balloons are being controlled by several different ropes pulling in different direction. The people pulling the ropes are controlling the tract of the balloon.

When you have Patella femoral syndrome is it caused by an imbalance pulling of the patella to one side or another, this causes undo pulling and rubbing on the grooves that the knee cap glides in. So if you imagine that the parade balloon is like the patella, it means that something is pulling on the balloon too hard and it deviate to one side more than another. You could imagine that during a parade this would cause a problem.  I could envision a 50 foot Snoopy taking out the north side of Macy’s.  The patella is supposed to glide up and down the knee in a way that it doesn’t rub the sides of the grooves; much like the 50 foot Snoopy is not supposed to rub the sides of Columbus Circle.

What does Patella femoral syndrome feel like?

• Pain with jumping, running and sometimes walking
• Pain when sitting for prolonged periods
• Pain feels like stiffness that you can’t shake off
• Pain persisted after sitting down

What causes Patella femoral syndrome?

• Tightness of ITBand (iliotibial band) which is the band of tissue on the outside of your thigh. It’s the thing that hurts when someone gives you a “dead leg”.
• Tightness of the tendons and fascia pulling on your patella
• Imbalance of muscles pulling on your knee cap
• Poor running mechanics
• Poor exercise form

What is another condition that can be confused for Patella femoral syndrome?

• Chondromalacia patella – This is mild arthritis on the bottom surface of your knee cap which causes grinding and pain.

What are some treatments?

Of course, physical therapy is suggested. A physical therapist would be able to best assess what limitations are causing your condition and would address them appropriately. Patella femoral syndrome does not often go away on its own so early treatment is important. If you suspect that you have patella femoral syndrome please discontinue painful activities until cleared by a physical therapist. 

Ouch My Knee Hurts!!! [Part 2]

Knee pain in Zone 1 could indicate a couple of things but most often times leads to patella tendinitis.

What is patella tendinitis?

Patella tendinitis is inflammation of the patella tendon. The patella tendon extends from the patella (knee cap) and attaches to the tibial tuberosity.  This tendon connects the entire muscle group of the quadriceps to the body. The patella tendon is therefore placed under significant force during running and jumping activities. Imagine a shoe lace holding a 100lb bucket from a pulley system; this is just a fraction of the forces placed of the patella tendon. Although the patella tendon is incredibly strong and can handle these forces sometimes these incredible forces can take its toll and can cause injury.

What does patella tendinitis feel like?

• Pain with jumping, running and sometimes walking
• Pain when rubbing the patella tendon
• Pain feels like burning and sometimes throbbing.
• Pain persisted after sitting down (not aways)

What causes patella Tendinitis?

• Repetitive jumping activities such as volleyball and basketball
• Not warming up before activity
• Tight quadriceps and a lack of stretching of said muscles

What are some treatments?

Of course, Physical therapy is suggested. In the short term, avoid painful activities, ice and resting. Taping and patella straps are sometimes beneficial. Talk to a professional before purchasing braces.

Other Possible diagnoses

• Patellofemoral syndrome
• Chondromalacia patella
• Knee arthritis
• Osgood Schlatters disease (NOTE: If you are complaining of pain similar to patella tendinitis but you are younger than 17 it is possible that you are experiencing another condition. Individuals that participate in repetitive jumping activities, that have yet to go through puberty, could have this condition) This is a condition where the patella tendon starts to pull away from its boney attachment (Tibial tuberosity). 

Ouch! My Knee Hurts!!! [Part 1]

This Blog is going to be one of a series of blogs. The next few weeks we will be discussing the knee and the variety of diagnoses and treatments related to it.

Among athletes and non-athletes one of the most common complaints I hear is of knee pain. The knee probably seems to be a straight forward joint compared to other joints of the body.  Although the knee may seem less complicated than a shoulder or the back, the knee is extremely dynamic and can pose several different problems.  The key to figuring out how to fix the problem, is to ask the right questions. Answering these questions accurately is the imperative to being able to accurately diagnosis any knee issue.

Where is the pain located?

It is important to note where the pain is located when you experiencing knee pain.

1. Patella tendon – Possible patella tendinitis
2.  Either side of the patella tendon – Possible patella femoral syndrome
3. Quad tendon – Possible Quad tendinitis
4. Joint line– Possible  medial meniscus (a), lateral meniscus (b)
5. Posterior knee – Possible Hamstring strain, popliteal tendinitis
6. Whole anterior knee – Possible L4 peripheral symptoms, arthritis, internal tear (ACL, PCL)
7. Inside joint line – Possible MCL issue
8. Outside joint line – Possible LCL Issue

What causes pain?

•  Is the pain caused when standing?
•  Is the pain caused by sitting?
• Does it hurt to run?
• Does it hurt to turn?

What does the pain feel like? What Else are you feeling?

• Burning?
• Tingling?
• Throbbing?
• Sharp?
• Stabbing?
• Was there a pop or a snap?

In the next few weeks we will go over each possible diagnosis. We will review the possible causes, treatments and how to avoid these issues.