Descriptions of disorders that may be treated at Health Quest Therapy
ACL or Anterior Cruciate Ligament rehabilitation
One of the most common knee injuries is an anterior cruciate ligament sprain or tear. The anterior cruciate ligament runs diagonally in the middle of the knee. It prevents the tibia from sliding out in front of the femur, as well as provides rotational stability to the knee.
Athletes who participate in high demand sports like soccer, football, and basketball are more likely to injure their anterior cruciate ligaments.
If you have injured your anterior cruciate ligament, you may require surgery to regain full function of your knee. This will depend on several factors, such as the severity of your injury and your activity level.
AAOS, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Scoliosis
Scoliosis causes a sideways curve of your backbone, or spine. These curves are often S- or C-shaped. Scoliosis is most common in late childhood and the early teens, when children grow fast. Girls are more likely to have it than boys. It can run in families. Symptoms include leaning to one side and having uneven shoulders and hips.
Doctors use your medical and family history, a physical exam, and imaging tests to diagnose scoliosis. Treatment depends on your age, how much more you're like to grow, how much curving there is, and whether the curve is temporary or permanent. People with mild scoliosis might only need checkups to see if the curve is getting worse. Others might need to wear a brace or have surgery.
NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SI Joint Pain)
Pain arising from abnormalities or injury of the sacroiliac (SI) joints. The SI joints connect the spine to the pelvis and are formed by the connection of the sacrum and the right and left iliac bones. The sacrum, or lower portion of the spine, is made up of five vertebrae that are fused together and do not move. The iliac bones are the two large bones that make up the pelvis.
Many conditions can cause pain arising from the sacroiliac joint, including degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis), gout, rheumatoid arthritis, conditions that alter the normal walking pattern, and pregnancy (due to a normal relaxation of the ligaments in the joint that prepares the pelvis for childbirth). Treatment can involve anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and/or surgery.
MedicineNet.com
whiplash
Muscle strain or tension often causes neck pain. The problem is usually overuse, such as from sitting at a computer for too long. Sometimes you can strain your neck muscles from sleeping in an awkward position or overdoing it during exercise. Falls or accidents, including car accidents, are another common cause of neck pain. Whiplash, a soft tissue injury to the neck, is also called neck sprain or strain.
Treatment depends on the cause, but may include applying ice, taking pain relievers, getting physical therapy or wearing a cervical collar. You rarely need surgery.
MedlinePlus, http://www.nlm.nih.gov
Neck pain
The neck (cervical spine) is composed of vertebrae that begin in the upper torso and end at the base of the skull. The bony vertebrae along with the ligaments (which are comparable to thick rubber bands) and muscles provide stability to the spine. The muscles allow for support and motion. The neck has a significant amount of motion and supports the weight of the head. However, because it is less protected than the rest of the spine, the neck can be vulnerable to injury and disorders that produce pain and restrict motion. For many people, neck pain is a temporary condition that disappears with time. Others need medical diagnosis and treatment to relieve their symptoms.
Neck pain may result from abnormalities in the soft tissues—the muscles, ligaments, and nerves—as well as in bones and disks of the spine. The most common causes of neck pain are soft-tissue abnormalities due to injury (a sprain) or prolonged wear and tear. In rare instances, infection or tumors may cause neck pain. In some people, neck problems may be the source of pain in the upper back, shoulders, or arms.
Cervical Disk Degeneration–(Spondylosis) The disk acts as a shock absorber between the bones in the neck. In cervical disk degeneration (which typically occurs in people age 40 years and older), the normal gelatin-like center of the disk degenerates and the space between the vertebrae narrows. As the disk space narrows, added stress is applied to the joints of the spine causing further wear and degenerative disease. The cervical disk may also protrude and put pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots when the rim of the disk weakens. This is known as a herniated cervical disk.
Injury–Because the neck is so flexible and because it supports the head, it is extremely vulnerable to injury. Motor vehicle or diving accidents, contact sports, and falls may result in neck injury. The regular use of safety belts in motor vehicles can help to prevent or minimize neck injury. A "rear end" automobile collision may result in hyperextension, a backward motion of the neck beyond normal limits, or hyperflexion, a forward motion of the neck beyond normal limits. The most common neck injuries involve the soft tissues: the muscles and ligaments. Severe neck injuries with a fracture or dislocation of the neck may damage the spinal cord and cause paralysis.
AAOS, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Low back pain
Pain in the lower back area that can relate to problems with the lumbar spine, the discs between the vertebrae, the ligaments around the spine and discs, the spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, or the skin covering the lumbar area.
The most common causes of low back pain are:
Injury or overuse. This can include sprains or strains of soft tissues such as ligaments and muscles, fractures or compression fractures of bones, or injuries to the small joints between the bones of the spine.Pressure on nerve roots from conditions such as a herniated disc or spinal stenosis.
Osteoarthritis, which is usually caused by getting older.
MedicineNet.com
WebMD, Back Pain Health Center, Low Back Pain
Herniated discs
A herniated (slipped) disk occurs when all or part of a disk is forced through a weakened part of the disk. This may place pressure on nearby nerves or the spinal cord.
The bones (vertebrae) of the spinal column protect nerves that come out of the brain and travel down your back to form the spinal cord. Nerve roots are large nerves that branch out from the spinal cord and leave your spinal column between each vertebrae.
The spinal bones are separated by disks. These disks cushion the spinal column and put space between your vertebrae. The disks allow movement between the vertebrae, which lets you bend and reach.
With herniated disk–The disk may move out of place (herniate) or break open (rupture) from injury or strain. When this happens, there may be pressure on the spinal nerves. This can lead to pain, numbness, or weakness.
The lower back (lumbar area) of the spine is the most common area for a slipped disk. The neck (cervical) disks are sometimes affected. The upper-to-mid-back (thoracic) disks are rarely involved.
A herniated disk is one cause of radiculopathy. This is any disease that affects the spinal nerve roots.
Slipped disks occur more often in middle-aged and older men, usually after strenuous activity. Other risk factors include conditions present at birth (congenital) that affect the size of the lumbar spinal canal.PubMed Health, A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Sciatica
Sciatica refers to pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the leg. It is caused by injury to or pressure on the sciatic nerve. Sciatica is a symptom of another medical problem, not a medical condition on its own.
Sciatica occurs when there is pressure or damage to the sciatic nerve. This nerve starts in the lower spine and runs down the back of each leg. This nerve controls the muscles of the back of the knee and lower leg. It also provides sensation to the back of the thigh, part of the lower leg, and the sole of the foot.
Common causes of sciatica include:
Slipped disk
Spinal stenosis
Piriformis syndrome (a pain disorder involving the narrow muscle in the buttocks)
Pelvic injury or fracture
Tumors
Sciatica pain can vary widely. It may feel like a mild tingling, dull ache, or burning sensation. In some cases, the pain is severe enough to make a person unable to move.
The pain most often occurs on one side. Some people have sharp pain in one part of the leg or hip and numbness in other parts. The pain or numbness may also be felt on the back of the calf or on the sole of the foot. The affected leg may feel weak.
MedlinePlus, http://www.nlm.nih.gov
Post-surgical rehabilitation
Therapy care designed to advance quality patient outcomes after a successful surgery.
Arthritis
If you feel pain and stiffness in your body or have trouble moving around, you might have arthritis. Most kinds of arthritis cause pain and swelling in your joints. Joints are places where two bones meet, such as your elbow or knee. Over time, a swollen joint can become severely damaged. Some kinds of arthritis can also cause problems in your organs, such as your eyes or skin.
Types of arthritis include:
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It's often related to aging or to an injury.Autoimmune arthritis happens when your body's immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake.
Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of this kind of arthritis.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a form of the disease that happens in children.
Infectious arthritis is an infection that has spread from another part of the body to the joint.
Psoriatic arthritis affects people with psoriasis.
Gout is a painful type of arthritis that happens when too much uric acid builds up in the body. It often starts in the big toe.
Treatment for some types of arthritis can include physical therapy and occupational therapy.
People with arthritis often have stiff joints, largely because they avoid movements that can increase pain. By not moving arthritic joints, the stiffness and pain only gets worse. Therefore, people with arthritis often benefit from physical therapy. A physical therapist can teach you how to work out stiffness without further damaging your joint.
WebMD, Physical and Occupational Therapy for Arthritis
NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Sports injuries
Exercising is good for you, but sometimes you can injure yourself when you play sports or exercise. Accidents, poor training practices, or improper gear can cause them. Some people get hurt because they are not in shape. Not warming up or stretching enough can also lead to injuries.
The most common sports injuries are
Sprains and strains
/blockquote>
Knee injuries
Swollen muscles
Achilles tendon injuries
Pain along the shin bone
Rotator cuff injuries
Fractures
Dislocations
If you get hurt, stop playing. Continuing to play or exercise can cause more harm. Treatment often begins with the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) method to relieve pain, reduce swelling, and speed healing. Other possible treatments include pain relievers, keeping the injured area from moving, rehabilitation, and sometimes surgery.
NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Headaches
Tension headaches are common and typically result from tension in the muscles that support the your head and neck. Tension headaches occur most commonly from holding your head in the same position for a long period of time, such as when you are sitting at a computer.
Range of motion exercises in physical therapy may help increase the flexibility in the muscles that cause your tension headaches. A physical therapist can prescribe a variety of stretches that can either be performed passively, with the help of a trained professional or actively by yourself.
Livestrong.com, Tension Headaches & Physical Therapy, Joe king,M.S.,August 2013
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes muscle pain and fatigue. People with fibromyalgia have "tender points" on the body. Tender points are specific places on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, and legs. These points hurt when pressure is put on them.
People with fibromyalgia may also have other symptoms, such as:
Trouble sleeping
Morning stiffness
Headaches
Painful menstrual periods
Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
Problems with thinking and memory (sometimes called "fibro fog")No one knows what causes fibromyalgia. Anyone can get it, but it is most common in middle-aged women. People with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases are particularly likely to develop fibromyalgia. There is no cure for fibromyalgia, but symptoms can be treated. Getting enough sleep, exercising, and eating well may also help.
NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Lymphedema
Lymphedema is an accumulation of fluid that can collect in any body part, but most typically in arms or legs. It usually occurs when the lymph vessels or lymph nodes are blocked or removed. The lymphatic system is part of the body's circulatory system and a vital part of the immune system. The lymphatic system runs parallel with the veins and removes cellular waste, bacteria, proteins and excess water from the tissues. The lymphatic system is also the prime vehicle for the immune system, managing foreign bodies and immune cells.
When lymph nodes or pathways are insufficient, damaged or removed through surgery, lymph fluid cannot progress through the body. Thus, the surrounding tissue swells, thickens and becomes painful. Bacteria in this environment can multiply and greatly increase the risk of infection. Fibrosis (excess connective tissue growth) can occur causing stiffness, and limiting movement and range of motion.
Massage Therapy101, Lymphedema Massage
Plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis occurs when the strong band of tissue that supports the arch of your foot becomes irritated and inflamed.
The plantar fascia is a long, thin ligament that lies directly beneath the skin on the bottom of your foot. It connects the heel to the front of your foot, and supports the arch of your foot.
The plantar fascia is designed to absorb the high stresses and strains we place on our feet. But, sometimes, too much pressure damages or tears the tissues. The body's natural response to injury is inflammation, which results in the heel pain and stiffness of plantar fasciitis.
AAOS, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Ankle sprains
Ankle sprains happen when the foot twists, rolls or turns beyond its normal motions. You can sprain your ankle if the foot is planted unevenly on a surface, beyond the normal force of stepping. This causes the ligaments to stretch beyond their normal range in an abnormal position. If the force is too strong, the ligaments can tear. When excessive force is applied to the ankle's soft tissue structures, you may even hear a "pop". Pain and swelling result.
The amount of force determines the grade of the sprain. A mild sprain is a Grade 1. A moderate sprain is a Grade 2. A severe strain is a Grade 3.
Grade 1 sprain– Slight stretching and some damage to the fibers (fibrils) of the ligament.
Grade 2 sprain– Partial tearing of the ligament. If the ankle joint is examined and moved in certain ways, abnormal looseness (laxity) of the ankle joint occurs.
Grade 3 sprain– Complete tear of the ligament. If the examiner pulls or pushes on the ankle joint in certain movements, gross instability occurs.
AAOS, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Shoulder injuries
Most problems in the shoulder involve the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, rather than the bones. Athletes are especially susceptible to shoulder problems. In athletes, shoulder problems can develop slowly through repetitive, intensive training routines.
Some people will have a tendency to ignore the pain and "play through" a shoulder injury, which only aggravates the condition, and may possibly cause more problems. People also may underestimate the extent of their injury because steady pain, weakness in the arm, or limitation of joint motion will become almost second nature to them.
Orthopaedic surgeons group shoulder problems into the following categories.
Instability- Sometimes, one of the shoulder joints moves or is forced out of its normal position. This condition is called instability, and can result in a dislocation of one of the joints in the shoulder. Individuals suffering from an instability problem will experience pain when raising their arm. They also may feel as if their shoulder is slipping out of place.
Impingement- Impingement is caused by excessive rubbing of the shoulder muscles against the top part of the shoulder blade, called the acromion.
Impingement problems can occur during activities that require excessive overhead arm motion. Medical care should be sought immediately for inflammation in the shoulder because it could eventually lead to a more serious injury.
AAOS, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Knee injuries
Your knee is made up of many important structures, any of which can be injured. The most common knee injuries include fractures around the knee, dislocation, and sprains and tears of soft tissues, like ligaments. In many cases, injuries involve more than one structure in the knee.
Pain and swelling are the most common signs of knee injury. In addition, your knee may catch or lock up. Many knee injuries cause instability — the feeling that your knee is giving way.
Many knee injuries can be successfully treated with simple measures, such as bracing and rehabilitation exercises. Other injuries may require surgery to correct.
AAOS, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Muscle strains
A strain is a stretched or torn muscle or tendon. Tendons are tissues that connect muscle to bone. Twisting or pulling these tissues can cause a strain. Strains can happen suddenly or develop over time. Back and hamstring muscle strains are common. Many people get strains playing sports. Symptoms include pain, muscle spasms, swelling, and trouble moving the muscle.
MedlinePlus, http://www.nlm.nih.gov
Tennis elbow
Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a painful condition of the elbow caused by overuse. Not surprisingly, playing tennis or other racquet sports can cause this condition. But several other sports and activities can also put you at risk.
Tennis elbow is an inflammation of the tendons that join the forearm muscles on the outside of the elbow. The forearm muscles and tendons become damaged from overuse — repeating the same motions again and again. This leads to pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow.
There are many treatment options for tennis elbow. In most cases, treatment involves a team approach. Primary doctors, physical therapists, and, in some cases, surgeons work together to provide the most effective care.
AAOS, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Chronic illnesses
Chronic diseases - such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes - are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. These diseases account for seven of every 10 deaths and affect the quality of life of 90 million Americans.
Although common and costly, many chronic diseases are also preventable. Many chronic diseases are linked to lifestyle choices that are within your own hands to change. Eating nutritious foods, becoming more physically active and avoiding tobacco can help keep you from developing many of these diseases and conditions. And, even if you already have diabetes, heart disease, arthritis or another chronic condition, eating more healthful food and getting more exercise, whether it's a brisk walk, a bike ride, a jog or a swim, can help you better manage your illness, avoid complications and prolong your life.
New York State Dept. of Health, http://www.health.ny.gov, Chronic Diseases and Conditions
Tingling or numbness
Numbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but are often felt in your fingers, hands, feet, arms, or legs. One of the most common causes of hand tingling is Carpal tunnel syndrome. Please consult your doctor for an informed diagnosis's as there are many possible causes.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which there is excessive pressure on the median nerve. This is the nerve in the wrist that allows feeling and movement to parts of the hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome can lead to numbness, tingling, weakness, or muscle damage in the hand and fingers.
MedlinePlus, http://www.nlm.nih.gov
Bursitis and tendinitis
Bursa is the slippery structure that exists in places where tendons pass over bones. These spots are points of friction, if the tendons were to rub against the bone. Bursa acts as a lubricant and allows the tendons to glide smoothly. When the Bursa is inflames is results in bursitis. A tendon is a structure that connects a muscle to bone. Tendons are rope-like tissue structures. When a tendon becomes inflamed and irritated, the word tendonitis is used.
Rotator cuff injuries
The rotator cuff is comprised of four muscles and tendons (tendons attache muscle to bone) on the backside of the shoulder. The muscles and tendons attach the shoulder blade to the arm and assist in controlling movement of the arm. These tendons have the potential to become inflamed and or torn which is the diagnosis of of rotator cuff tendonitis or a torn rotator cuff. These two diagnosis are related to each other; if not treated appropriately rotator cuff tendonitis can progress to a rotator cuff tear.
Total knee replacement
A surgical procedure in which damaged parts of the knee joint are replaced with artificial parts. The surgery is done by separating the muscles and ligaments around the knee to expose the inside of the joint. The ends of the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia) are removed as is often the underside of the kneecap (patella). The artificial parts are then cemented into place.
The new knee typically has a metal shell on the end of the femur, a metal and plastic trough on the tibia, and sometimes a plastic button in the kneecap.
Total knee replacement may be done on people, usually over 55, whose knees have been damaged by arthritis, trauma, or other destructive diseases of the joint resulting in severe limiting knee pain and significant stiffness, instability (constant giving way) and deformity (lock-knees or bowlegs) of the knee.
MedicineNet.com
Total Shoulder replacement
In shoulder replacement surgery, the damaged parts of the shoulder are removed and replaced with artificial components, called a prosthesis. The treatment options are either replacement of just the head of the humerus bone (ball), or replacement of both the ball and the socket (glenoid). Several conditions can cause shoulder pain and disability, and lead patients to consider shoulder joint replacement surgery and they include: Osteoarthritis (Degenerative Joint Disease), Post-traumatic Arthritis, Rotator Cuff Tear Arthropathy, Avascular Necrosis (Disruption of blood supply to the bone) and Severe Fractures.
AAOS, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Upper extremity fractures
Upper extremity injuries can happen to anybody, but they are most commonly related to falling onto an outstretched hand. Athletes and professionals who do repetitive motions with their hands and wrists are also at higher risk of these types of injuries.
The symptoms of upper extremity injuries vary, but can include:
Loss of range of motion
Pain
Weakness
Skin discoloration
Muscle aches
Swelling
Numbness
TinglingHealthcare providers determine the extent of upper extremity injuries by palpating the area, assessing range of motion, performing x-rays or other types of scans, and employing other diagnostic tests. After a diagnosis is made, treatment can include tactics such as surgery, pain medication, physical therapy, cold compression therapy, or a combination of these. Returning to normal activity as quickly as possible is always a goal for both the patient and physician, especially in the case of upper extremity injury.
Some of the most common injuries to the upper extremities are outlined below.
Hand or Wrist Fractures
There are 27 bones in a human hand, eight of which make up the wrist joint. A fracture to any of these bones can impact the entire assembly, limiting range of motion and affecting the hand’s ability to perform normal functions, including holding a grip.
A hand or wrist fracture can occur from a direct blow or crushing as a result of:
Trauma such as a car or bicycle accident
Sports injury
Falling or tripping
Risk factors such as participation in sports or conditions such as osteoporosis or other bone disease increase the chances of sustaining a hand or wrist fracture.
A sudden loss of range of motion is common with a hand or wrist fracture, but this is not always the case. Any suspected fracture should be treated immediately. If left untreated, even a small fracture can affect the alignment of the entire hand.
Hand or Wrist Sprains
The stretching or tearing of ligaments causes a sprain, while the stretching or tearing of muscles or tendons is classified as a strain. Both types of injuries can be caused in any of the same ways as a hand or wrist fracture, but an acute hand or wrist sprain is more common than an acute strain. On the other hand, chronic wrist strain can occur in gymnasts, rowers, golfers, and tennis players due to the prolonged, repetitive movements required in these sports.
The symptoms of sprains are also similar to those of a fracture, which is why getting a diagnosis from a medical professional is so important. After spraining a hand or wrist, you might experience pain, swelling, limited range of motion, and bruising in the affected area.
If a sprain is suspected, your doctor might still perform x-rays to confirm that none of the bones are fractured. After a fracture has been ruled out, an MRI scan can show the extent of the injury to the soft tissues.
Even if it seems like it might be just a minor injury, any potential sprain of the hand or wrist should be treated. In some cases, a suspected sprain might actually be a fracture.
Chronic pain
Individuals may suffer from chronic pain in the upper (or lower) extremities for a number of reasons such as lingering scar tissue from a previous surgery or an untreated injury. Some of the conditions that may contribute to chronic pain include:
Muscle tears
Small fractures
Bursitis
Tendonitis
Nerve damage
Degenerative joint disease
Regardless of the reason for the pain, it can become quite a nuisance if left untreated. Depending on the diagnosis, a doctor might recommend pain medication, heat and cold therapy, or physical therapy.
Reoccurring acute injuries
Occupational injuries can occur when an individual does a repetitive motion with their upper extremities. This can happen in environments such as certain sports, professional offices, food preparation, manufacturing, or factory assembly lines.
Additional factors such as pinched nerves and fatigued muscles and tendons can lead to reoccurring acute injuries that can be quite painful. Some of the common symptoms that occur with this type of injury include numbness and tingling in the hands, pain radiating from the wrist, or a feeling of weakness in the hands. If these types of symptoms are not effectively treated they can worsen and contribute to further muscle and tissue damage.
The treatment for these types of injuries varies but it can include any combination of these four approaches: wrist wraps, bandages with ice packs, physical therapy, occupational therapy and cold compression therapy.
Gameready,The 4 Most Common Upper Extremity Injuries and Symptoms,
Kelly Hansen, Mar 31, 2014TMD-Temporomandibular disorders (jaw pain)
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) occur as a result of problems with the jaw, jaw joint and surrounding facial muscles that control chewing and moving the jaw. These disorders are often incorrectly called TMJ, which stands for temporomandibular joint.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge joint that connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the temporal bone of the skull, which is immediately in front of the ear on each side of your head. The joints are flexible, allowing the jaw to move smoothly up and down and side to side and enabling you to talk, chew, and yawn. Muscles attached to and surrounding the jaw joint control the position and movement of the jaw.
WebMD,Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)
Traumatic brain or spinal cord injury
Spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury treatment focus on preventing further injury and empowering people to an active and productive life.De-conditioning due to prolonged illness
De-conditioning can be defined as the multiple, potentially reversible changes in body systems brought about by physical inactivity and disuse. Such changes often have significant functional and clinical consequences in older people.
De-conditioning commonly occurs in two situations:
Living a sedentary lifestyle, which is common in older people even in the absence of significant disease or disability and may result in a slow, chronic decline in physical fitness.Bed or chair rest during an acute illness, which can lead to disastrously rapid physical decline.
Decline in muscle strength and muscle bulk is the most important and consistent feature of de-conditioning. Reduced maximal oxygen uptake during exercise, impairment of balance responses, and decreased cardiac output during exercise have also been linked to de-conditioning but may primarily result from the reduction in muscle bulk.
Encyclopedia.com, De-conditioning
Orthopedic conditions
Common orthopedic conditions that may require pre or post operative occupational therapy as an integral part of the patient return to full function.
Achilles Tendinitis, Arthritis and the foot and ankle, Arthritis of the hip, Bunions, Carpal tunnel syndrome,Chronic shoulder pain, Dupuytren's contractor, Hip bursitis, Knee replacement surgery, MCL injure, Osteonecrosis, PCL injuries, Rotator cuff tear, Spots-related hand injuries, Tendinitis of the wrist, Throwing injuries, Wrist fractures, ACL injuries, Arthritis of the hand, Arthritis of the knee, Bursitis and rotator cuff tendinitis, Cartilage injuries - meniscal tear, Frozen shoulder, Hammer toes, Hip fracture, Hip replacement surgery, Latral tear of the shoulder, Morton's neuroma, Osteoporosis, Plantar fasciitis, Shoulder arthritis, Stress fractures of the foot and ankle, Tennis elbow, Trigger finger and othersDevelopmental delays
As you watch your child grow, it helps to remember that each child develops at his or her own pace and the range of normal is quite wide. However, it is helpful to be aware of red flags for potential developmental delays in children. These delays are significant lags in one or more areas of emotional, mental, or physical growth. If your child experiences a delay, early treatment is the best way to help him or her make progress or even to catch up.
webMD,Parenting,Recognizing Developmental Delays in Children
Burns
Occupational therapists work with patients who have suffered burns to rehabilitate their physical functioning and prevent scar contractures and other complications associated with sever burns.
The use of Occupational Therapy provides treatment to patients who have the need for hand therapy, splinting, self-care retraining, face and neck stretching, scar massage, UE stretching and functional improvement.
Stroke
Stroke is caused by a blocked blood vessel or bleeding in the brain. The signs of a stroke include a sudden severe headache, weakness, numbness, vision problems, confusion, trouble walking or talking, dizziness and slurred speech.
Occupational therapists employ several techniques to assist people after stroke, focusing on use of the upper extremities and daily activities.
Splinting - Occupational therapists use hand-splinting techniques to reduce tightness, improve range of motion and reduce pain after stroke. A hand splint may first be applied while you are in the hospital to reduce risk of contractures - a condition in which fingers get "stuck" in a bent position, leading to hygiene issues and skin breakdown. Depending on your needs, splints may be pre-made or custom-molded by your therapist out of thermoplastic materials. Splints may be worn temporarily until you regain use of your hand, or permanently if your hand function remains limited.
Exercise - Exercise is a major component of rehabilitation after stroke. Occupational therapy typically focuses on arm exercises to increase range of motion, joint flexibility and muscle strength. Early on, you may need physical assistance from your therapist to help move your affected arm. As strength improves, exercises are made more challenging with dumbbells and strap-on wrist weights. Upper-body cycling may also be used to increase endurance as well as range of motion in your affected arm.
Self-care - Self-care activities are often difficult after stroke. Occupational therapists teach you how to groom, shower, use the toilet, eat and get dressed as part of rehabilitation. Specific treatment techniques are chosen based on your ability to use your affected arm. Adaptive equipment such as sock aids, long-handled shoe horns and shower brushes, reachers and self-wiping wands are often used to help you regain self-care independence.
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) - Cooking, laundry and cleaning tasks are often included in rehabilitation after stroke. Safety techniques, such as installing grab bars in the bathroom and removing throw rugs, are implemented to improve your function at home. Your therapist may also help you with organization and daily scheduling if you experience memory issues or confusion as a result of your stroke.
live strong.com, www.livestrong.com, Occupational Therapy Techniques for Stroke Patients, Aubrey Bailey, 2014
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a hand and arm condition that causes numbness, tingling and other symptoms. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by a pinched nerve in your wrist.
A number of factors can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome, including the anatomy of your wrist, certain underlying health problems and possibly patterns of hand use.
Bound by bones and ligaments, the carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway located on the palm side of your wrist. This tunnel protects a main nerve to your hand and the nine tendons that bend your fingers.
Compression of the nerve produces the numbness, tingling and, eventually, hand weakness that characterize carpal tunnel syndrome.
Fortunately, for most people who develop carpal tunnel syndrome, proper treatment usually can relieve the tingling and numbness and restore wrist and hand function.
Mayo Clinic, Diseases and Conditions, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Post-operative carpal tunnel release
If you have decided to have surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome, you will have one of two types: open release or endoscopic surgery. They involve different techniques and also have different post-operative recovery courses. Both techniques are used to cut the transverse carpal ligament. This allows the carpal tunnel to open wider and decompresses the median nerve. The open release approach is more traumatic because it requires a 2-inch long slit in the palm. The endoscopic approach merely requires one or two small holes in the palm. Sometimes during the endoscopic approach, the surgeon will find that there is difficulty safely cutting the carpal ligament due to blood vessels or nerves in the way. At that point it may be decided to switch over to the open technique during surgery. Whichever approach is taken, the immediate post-operative course of events will be similar.
Live strong.com, www.livestrong.com, About Post-Operative Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Surgery, Chris Walker, 2010
Tendinitis
Tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of a tendon — any one of the thick fibrous cords that attaches muscle to bone. The condition causes pain and tenderness just outside a joint. While tendinitis can occur in any of your body's tendons, it's most common around your shoulders, elbows, wrists and heels.
Some common names for various tendinitis problems are:
Tennis elbow
Golfer's elbow
Pitcher's shoulder
Swimmer's shoulder
Jumper's knee
If tendinitis is severe and leads to the rupture of a tendon, you may need surgical repair. But most cases of tendinitis can be successfully treated with rest, physical or occupational therapy and medications to reduce pain.
Mayo Clinic, Diseases and Conditions, Tendinitis
Peripheral nerve disorders
Your peripheral nerves are the ones outside your brain and spinal cord. Like static on a telephone line, peripheral nerve disorders distort or interrupt the messages between the brain and the rest of the body.
There are more than 100 kinds of peripheral nerve disorders. They can affect one nerve or many nerves. Some are the result of other diseases, like diabetic nerve problems. Others, like Guillain-Barre syndrome, happen after a virus infection. Still others are from nerve compression, like carpal tunnel syndrome or thoracic outlet syndrome. In some cases, like complex regional pain syndrome and brachial plexus injuries, the problem begins after an injury. Some people are born with peripheral nerve disorders.
Symptoms often start gradually, and then get worse. They include:
Numbness
Pain
Burning or tingling
Muscle weakness
Sensitivity to touch
Treatment aims to treat any underlying problem, reduce pain and control symptoms.
NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Tendon lacerations
A tendon is part of the muscle that attaches the muscle to bone. It is a strong, fibrous tissue that is responsible for transferring the forces generated by the muscle to the bone, thus producing movement at the joint. When tendons are severed, or lacerated the result is the immediate loss of function at the joint controlled by the tendon.
Amputations
Traumatic amputation is the loss of a body part -- usually a finger, toe, arm, or leg -- that occurs as the result of an accident or injury.
The long-term outcome for amputees has improved due to better understanding of the management of traumatic amputation, early emergency and critical care management, new surgical techniques, early rehabilitation, and new prosthetic designs. New limb replantation techniques have been moderately successful, but incomplete nerve regeneration remains a major limiting factor.
MedlinePlus, www.nimhih.gov, Amputation-traumatic
Thumb injuries
Thumb injuries are highly debilitating and a common cause of thumb pain and hand swelling.
Thumb injuries can take on many forms - including dislocation, sprains or fractures. Depending on the severity of your injury, it may take weeks or months for your thumb to heal. As part of your rehabilitation process, you may be referred to a physical or occupational therapist to help build strength, increase range of motion and improve the overall functioning of your hand.
Livestrong.com, thumb rehab Exercises, Michelle Zehr, 2013
Bridging fitness centers and cardiac rehabilitation
Lifestyles is bridging the gap between fitness centers and cardiac rehabilitation. Those whom require close monitoring, more than what a fitness center can provide and have not currently had any major cardiac issues, which would qualify them for cardiac rehab, would greatly benefit from Lifestyles.
Controlling health risk factors
Risk factors are behaviors or conditions that increase your chance of developing a disease. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease are also often risk factors for other chronic diseases. Many risk factors are related. For example, if someone is not physically active, that person is more likely to become overweight and more likely to develop high blood pressure. The following are common risk factors that can lead to cardiovascular disease:
Tobacco Use
Physical Inactivity
Poor Diet
Overweight/Obesity
High Blood Pressure
High Blood Cholesterol
Diabetes
Sleep disorders
Stress
Multiple Risk Factors
NewYork State,www.health.ny.gov, Cardiovascular, Heart-Disease, Risk-Factors
Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body's own immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas (called beta cells).
Normally, the body's immune system fights off foreign invaders like viruses or bacteria. But for unknown reasons, in people with type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks various cells in the body. This results in a complete deficiency of the insulin hormone.
Some people develop a type of diabetes – called secondary diabetes -- which is similar to type 1 diabetes, but the beta cells are not destroyed by the immune system but by some other factor, such as cystic fibrosis or pancreatic surgery.
Understanding Insulin and Type 1 Diabetes
Normally the hormone insulin is secreted by the pancreas in low amounts. When you eat a meal, sugar (glucose) from food stimulates the pancreas to release insulin. The amount that is released is proportional to the amount that is required by the size of that particular meal.
Insulin's main role is to help move certain nutrients -- especially sugar -- into the cells of the body's tissues. Cells use sugars and other nutrients from meals as a source of energy to function.
The amount of sugar in the blood decreases once it enters the cells. Normally that signals the beta cells in the pancreas to lower the amount of insulin secreted so that you don't develop low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia). But the destruction of the beta cells that occurs with type 1 diabetes throws the entire process into disarray.
Type 2 diabetes
Unlike people with type 1 diabetes, the bodies of people with type 2 diabetes make insulin. But either their pancreas does not make enough insulin or the body cannot use the insulin well enough. This is called insulin resistance. When there isn't enough insulin or the insulin is not used as it should be, glucose (sugar) can't get into the body's cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, the body's cells are not able to function properly. Other problems associated with the buildup of glucose in the blood include:
Damage to the body. Over time, the high glucose levels in the blood can damage the nerves and small blood vessels of the eyes, kidneys, and heart and lead to atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries that can cause heart attack and stroke.
Dehydration. The buildup of sugar in the blood can cause an increase in urination, causing dehydration.
Diabetic coma (hyperosmolar nonketotic diabetic coma). When a person with type 2 diabetes becomes very ill or severely dehydrated and is not able to drink enough fluids to make up for the fluid losses, they may develop this life-threatening complication.
WebMD, Diabetes Health Center, type-1-diabetes, type-2-diabetes
High blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a common condition in which the force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease.
Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure.
You can have high blood pressure (hypertension) for years without any symptoms. Even without symptoms, damage to blood vessels and your heart continues and can be detected. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.
High blood pressure generally develops over many years, and it affects nearly everyone eventually. Fortunately, high blood pressure can be easily detected. And once you know you have high blood pressure, you can work with your doctor to control it.
The Mayo Clinic, Diseases and Conditions, High Blood Pressure, Definition
Metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions — increased blood pressure, a high blood sugar level, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels — that occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
Having just one of these conditions doesn't mean you have metabolic syndrome. However, any of these conditions increase your risk of serious disease. If more than one of these conditions occur in combination, your risk is even greater.
If you have metabolic syndrome or any of the components of metabolic syndrome, aggressive lifestyle changes can delay or even prevent the development of serious health problems.
The Mayo Clinic, Diseases and Conditions, Metabolic Syndrome, Definition
Obesity
If doctors tell you you're obese, they're not trying to make you feel bad. They're using a specific medical term -- obesity -- to talk with you about your weight. The word "obesity" means too much body fat. It's usually based on your body mass index (BMI), which you can check using a BMI calculator. BMI compares your weight to your height.
If your BMI is 25 to 29.9, you're overweight but not obese. A BMI of 30 or more is in the obese range.
WebMD, What-is-obesity
Thyroid disorders
Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, just above your collarbone. It is one of your endocrine glands, which make hormones. Thyroid hormones control the rate of many activities in your body. These include how fast you burn calories and how fast your heart beats. All of these activities are your body's metabolism.
Thyroid problems include:
Goiter-enlargement of the thyroid gland
Hyperthyroidism-when your thyroid gland makes more thyroid hormones than your body needs
Hypothyroidism-when your thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormones
Thyroid cancer
Thyroid nodules-lumps in the thyroid gland
Thyroiditis-swelling of the thyroid
Dept. of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health
Smoking cessation
Tobacco use can lead to tobacco/nicotine dependence and serious health problems. Quitting smoking greatly reduces the risk of developing smoking-related diseases.
Tobacco/nicotine dependence is a condition that often requires repeated treatments, but effective treatments and helpful resources exist. Smokers can and do quit smoking. In fact, today there are more former smokers than current smokers.
Nicotine Dependence
Nicotine is the drug in tobacco products that produces dependence. Most smokers are dependent on nicotine.
Nicotine dependence is the most common form of chemical dependence in the United States. Research suggests that nicotine may be as addictive as heroin, cocaine, or alcohol.
Quitting smoking is difficult and may require several attempts. Users often return to smoking because of withdrawal symptoms, stress, and weight gain. Nicotine withdrawal symptoms may include irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, cravings for a cigarette, and increased appetite.
Center for disease control and prevention, Tobacco, Quitting Smoking
Stress
Stress symptoms may be affecting your health, even though you might not realize it. You may think illness is to blame for that nagging headache, your frequent insomnia or your decreased productivity at work. But stress may actually be the culprit.
Common effects of stress
Indeed, stress symptoms can affect your body, your thoughts and feelings, and your behavior. Being able to recognize common stress symptoms can give you a jump on managing them. Stress that's left unchecked can contribute to health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.The Mayo Clinic, Healthy Lifestyle, Stress Management, Stress Symptoms: Effects on your body and behavior
Sleep disorders
Sleep disorders are changes in sleeping patterns or habits. Signs and symptoms of sleep disorders include excessive daytime sleepiness, irregular breathing or increased movement during sleep, difficulty sleeping, and abnormal sleep behaviors.
A sleep disorder can affect your overall health, safety and quality of life. With accurate diagnosis, doctors can treat most sleep disorders effectively.
The Mayo Clinic, Diseases and Conditions, Sleep Disorders, Definition
Stress urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence is the unintentional loss of urine. Stress incontinence is prompted by a physical movement or activity — such as coughing, sneezing, running or heavy lifting — that puts pressure or stress on your bladder. Stress incontinence is not related to psychological stress.
If you have stress incontinence, you may feel embarrassed, isolate yourself, or limit your work and social life, especially exercise and leisure activities. With treatment, you'll likely be able to manage stress incontinence and improve your overall well-being.
Mayo Clinic, Diseases-Conditions, Stress Incontinence
Urge urinary incontinence
Involves a strong, sudden need to urinate. Then the bladder squeezes and you lose urine. You don't have enough time after you feel the need to urinate to get to the bathroom before you do urinate.
PubMed Health, Urge Incontinence
Mixed urinary incontinence
There are several types of incontinence: Stress incontinence is leakage of urine caused by coughing, sneezing, or other movements that put pressure on the bladder; urge incontinence is the loss of urine after feeling a sudden need to urinate.
Many people have symptoms of both stress incontinence and urge incontinence. This combination is often referred to as mixed incontinence. Many studies show that mixed incontinence is a more common type of incontinence in older women.
Because mixed incontinence is typically a combination of stress and urge incontinence, it shares symptoms of both. You may have mixed incontinence if you experience the following symptoms:
Urine leakage when you sneeze, cough, laugh, do jarring exercise, or lift somethingHeavy urine leakage after a sudden urge to urinate, while you sleep, after drinking a small amount of water, or touching water or hearing it run
WebMD, Incontinence and Overactive Bladder Health Center
Post prostatectomy urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence, or the loss of the ability to control urination, is common in men who have had surgery or radiation for prostate cancer. You should prepare for this possibility and understand that, for a while, at least, urinary incontinence may complicate your life.
WebMD, Incontinence and Overactive Bladder Health Center, Prostate Cancer, Urinary IncontinenceUrinary hesitancy
Urinary hesitancy affects people of all ages and occurs in both sexes. However, it is most common in older men with an enlarged prostate gland. Urinary hesitancy usually comes on slowly over time. You may not notice it until you are unable to urinate (urinary retention), and your bladder swells and becomes uncomfortable.
PubMed Health, Urination - Difficulty With Flow, Urinary Hesitancy
Nocturia
The need to wake up to urinate several times during the night. Waking up to void once during the night is considered normal.
Sensation of incomplete emptying
A feeling that some urine remains in the bladder after voiding.
Coital incontinence
Urination leakage during intercourse.
Fecal incontinence
Fecal incontinence is the inability to control bowel movements, causing stool (feces) to leak unexpectedly from the rectum. Also called bowel incontinence, fecal incontinence ranges from an occasional leakage of stool while passing gas to a complete loss of bowel control.
Common causes of fecal incontinence include diarrhea, constipation, and muscle or nerve damage. The muscle or nerve damage may be associated with aging or with giving birth.
Whatever the cause, fecal incontinence can be embarrassing. But don't shy away from talking to your doctor. Treatments are available that can improve fecal incontinence and your quality of life.
Mayo Clinic, Diseases-Conditions, Fecal-Incontinence
Constipation
Chronic constipation is infrequent bowel movements or difficult passage of stools that persists for several weeks or longer. Constipation is generally described as having fewer than three bowel movements a week. Though occasional constipation is very common, some people experience chronic constipation that can interfere with their ability to go about their daily tasks. Chronic constipation may also cause excessive straining to have a bowel movement and other signs and symptoms.
Mayo Clinic, Diseases-Conditions, Constipation
Pelvic organ prolapse
When the muscles and ligaments supporting a woman's pelvic organs weaken, the pelvic organs can slip out of place (prolapse). Pelvic organ prolapse can worsen over time, and you may need surgery to fix it. There are different types of pelvic organ prolapse. Some women develop pelvic organ prolapse after childbirth, a hysterectomy or menopause.
Mayo Clinic, Diseases-Conditions, Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Vulvodynia (vul-vo-DIN-ee-uh)
Chronic pain in the area around the opening of your vagina (vulva) for which there is no identifiable cause. The pain, burning or irritation associated with vulvodynia may make you so uncomfortable that sitting for long periods or having sex becomes unthinkable. The condition can go on for months or years.
If you have vulvodynia, don't let the absence of visible signs or embarrassment about discussing the symptoms of vulvodynia keep you from seeking help. Treatment options are available to lessen the pain and discomfort of vulvodynia.
Mayo Clinic, Diseases-Conditions, Vulvodynia
Vaginismus
Vaginismus. Involuntary spasms of the muscles of the vaginal wall (vaginismus) can make attempts at penetration very painful.
Mayo Clinic, Diseases-Conditions, Painful Intercourse
Interstitial cystitis (in-tur-STISH-ul sis-TIE-tis)
Also called painful bladder syndrome — is a chronic condition in which you experience bladder pressure, bladder pain and sometimes pelvic pain, ranging from mild discomfort to severe pain.
Your bladder is a hollow, muscular organ that stores urine. The bladder expands until it's full and then signals your brain that it's time to urinate, communicating through the pelvic nerves. This creates the urge to urinate for most people. With interstitial cystitis, these signals get mixed up — you feel the need to urinate more often and with smaller volumes of urine than most people.
Interstitial cystitis most often affects women and can have a long-lasting impact on quality of life. Although there's no treatment that reliably eliminates interstitial cystitis, medications and other therapies may offer relief.
Mayo Clinic, Diseases-Conditions, Interstitial Cystitis
Coccydynia
Tailbone pain, also called coccydynia or coccygodynia, pain that occurs in or around the bony structure at the bottom of the spine (coccyx) — can be caused by trauma to the coccyx during a fall, prolonged sitting on a hard or narrow surface, degenerative joint changes, or vaginal childbirth.
Tailbone pain can feel dull and achy but typically becomes sharp during certain activities, such as sitting, rising from a seated to a standing position or prolonged standing. Defecation and sex also might become painful. For women, tailbone pain can make menstruation uncomfortable as well.
Mayo Clinic, Tailbone Pain, Expert Answers
Dyspareunia
Painful intercourse can occur for a variety of reasons — ranging from structural problems to psychological concerns. Many women experience painful intercourse at some point in their lives.
The medical term for painful intercourse is dyspareunia (dis-puh-ROO-ne-uh) — which is defined as persistent or recurrent genital pain that occurs just before, during or after intercourse. Talk to your doctor if you're experiencing painful intercourse. Treatments focus on the underlying cause, and can help eliminate or reduce this common problem.
Mayo Clinic, Diseases and Conditions, Painful Intercourse (dyspareunia)
Pelvic floor tension myalgia (PFTM)
PFTM is a myofascial diagnosis of exclusion made only after organic disease has been ruled out. It usually requires a multidisciplinary treatment for optimal outcomes
Chronic pelvic and rectal pain is a common and frustrating problem for many patients. It has been shown that the prevalence is almost 15% in some patient populations.1 The etiology of the pain is often unknown despite extensive work-up. In some of these patients, the cause of the pain is secondary to the pelvic floor muscles. Despite the prevalence of chronic pelvic and rectal pain, the muscles of the pelvic floor are often overlooked as a source of the discomfort. This muscular pain has been referred to by numerous names in the literature including coccygodynia, levator spasm syndrome, levator ani syndrome, spastic pelvic floor syndrome, diaphragma pelvis spastica, and pelvic floor tension myalgia.2,3,4,5,6 All of these terms refer to a similar set of symptoms and clinical findings. The authors prefer the term “pelvic floor tension myalgia” (PFTM), as it seems to most accurately describe the syndrome.
Practical Pain Management, www.practicalpainmanagment.com,Steve J. Wisniewski, MD and Mark H. Winemiller, MD
Pudendal neuralgia
Pudendal neuralgia is a rare problem with the pudendal nerve that can affect both men and women. The pudendal nerve runs through your pelvic region, including your genitals, urethra, anus, and perineum. Your perineum is the area between your anus and genitals. The condition is also known as pudendal neuropathy, pudendal nerve entrapment, cyclist's syndrome, pudendal canal syndrome, or Alcock’s syndrome.
Pudendal neuralgia can cause pain, especially when you sit. Men with pudendal neuralgia may have pain in the buttocks, scrotum, penis, and perineum. Women with pudendal neuralgia may have pain in their buttocks, vulva, urethra, and perineum.
WebMD, Pudendal Neuralgia
Prostatitis
Prostatitis is swelling and inflammation of the prostate gland, a walnut-sized gland located directly below the bladder in men. The prostate gland produces fluid (semen) that nourishes and transports sperm.
Prostatitis often causes painful or difficult urination. Other symptoms of prostatitis include pain in the groin, pelvic area or genitals and sometimes flu-like symptoms.
Prostatitis affects men of all ages but tends to be more common in men 50 years of age or younger. Prostatitis can be caused by a number of different things. If it's caused by a bacterial infection, it can usually be treated with antibiotics. However, sometimes prostatitis isn't caused by a bacterial infection or an exact cause is never identified.
Depending on the cause, prostatitis may come on gradually or suddenly. It may get better quickly, either on its own or with treatment. Some types of prostatitis last for months or keep recurring (chronic prostatitis).
Mayo Clinic, Diseases and Conditions, Prostatitis
Rectal pain
Rectal pain is pain in the lower portion of the gastrointestinal tract. The term is often used interchangeably with pain in the anus or anal pain. It is a fairly common problem and can result from condition such as hemorrhoids or anal fissures. Rectal or anal pain can also occur with inflammatory diseases of the bowel, localized infections, or minor injuries to the area. Some causes of rectal pain, such as hemorrhoids or anal fissures, can be accompanied by other symptoms like rectal bleeding. Cancers are a rare cause of rectal pain.
Patients may experience the related symptoms of Rectal Bleeding, Buttock Pain, and/or Blood In Stool.
MedicineNet.com, Rectal Pain
Endometriosis (en-doe-me-tree-O-sis)
Endometriosis is an often painful disorder in which tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus — the endometrium — grows outside your uterus (endometrial implant). Endometriosis most commonly involves your ovaries, bowel or the tissue lining your pelvis. Rarely, endometrial tissue may spread beyond your pelvic region.
In endometriosis, displaced endometrial tissue continues to act as it normally would — it thickens, breaks down and bleeds with each menstrual cycle. Because this displaced tissue has no way to exit your body, it becomes trapped. When endometriosis involves the ovaries, cysts called endometriomas may form. Surrounding tissue can become irritated, eventually developing scar tissue and adhesions — abnormal tissue that binds organs together.
Endometriosis can cause pain — sometimes severe — especially during your period. Fertility problems also may develop. Fortunately, effective treatments are available.
Mayo Clinic, Diseases and Conditions, Endometriosis
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges.
Autism has no single, known cause. Given the complexity of the disease, and the fact that symptoms and severity vary, there are probably many causes. Both genetics and environment may play a role.
Genetic problems – Several genes appear to be involved in autism. Some may make a child more susceptible to the disorder. Others affect brain development or the way that brain cells communicate. Still others may determine the severity of symptoms. Each problem in genes may account for a small number of cases, but taken together, the influence of genes is likely substantial. Some genetic problems seem to be inherited, while others happen spontaneously.
Environmental factors – Researchers are currently exploring whether such factors as viral infections, complications during pregnancy and air pollutants play a role in triggering autism.
Mayo Clinic, Autism
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Autism
Brachial plexus injury
A brachial plexus injury is an injury to the brachial plexus — the network of nerves that sends signals from your spine to your shoulder, arm and hand.
A brachial plexus injury occurs when these nerves are stretched, compressed or, in the most serious cases, torn. This can happen when your shoulder is pressed down forcefully while your head is pushed up and away from that shoulder; a direct contact hit also can compress these nerves.
Brachial plexus injuries are common in contact sports such as football, but they can also result from auto or motorcycle accidents or falls. Babies sometimes sustain brachial plexus injuries during birth. Other conditions, such as inflammation or tumors, may affect the brachial plexus.
Minor injuries may get better on their own, but severe brachial plexus injuries require surgical repair.
Mayo Clinic, Diseases and Conditions, Brachial plexus injury
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD) symptoms may begin in childhood and continue into adulthood. ADHD and ADD symptoms, such as hyperactivity, impulsiveness and inattentiveness, can cause problems at home, school, work, or in relationships.
WebMD, ADD and ADHD Health Center
Brain injury
A traumatic brain injury is caused by an external physical force such as: shaking, striking the head against an object, a collision with speed and force, or a fall. This injury can be either an open injury in which the skull is penetrated or opened in some way or a closed brain injury where the skull remains intact.
An acquired brain injury is an injury from an internal event such as a stroke or tumor. It can also be caused by lack of oxygen to the brain, such as a choking, or near drowning. Other sources of acquired brain injuries include poisoning (ingesting lead or other chemicals), illnesses (viral, meningitis, etc.)
Primary injuries are those that occur directly as a result of the injury.
The area of the brain directly damaged as a result of the brain injury.Coup-contra coup or the injury that occurs on the opposite side of the skull from where the brain was first damaged. This injury occurs by the momentum or force of the brain moving inside the skull and hitting the opposite wall of the skull.
Shearing and rotation injuries occur as the brain moves in a circular motion within the skull.
Secondary effects or secondary injuries happen within the brain after the initial injury.
* Swelling and bleeding that cause compression within the skull that injures brain tissue.Damage to the brain caused by infections or strokes that occur as a result of the initial brain injury.
Pediatric Brain Injury Foundation, About Brain Injury
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that can involve brain and nervous system functions, such as movement, learning, hearing, seeing, and thinking.
There are several different types of cerebral palsy, including spastic, dyskinetic, ataxic, hypotonic, and mixed.
Cerebral palsy is caused by injuries or abnormalities of the brain. Most of these problems occur as the baby grows in the womb. But they can happen at any time during the first 2 years of life, while the baby's brain is still developing.
In some people with cerebral palsy, parts of the brain are injured due to a low level of oxygen (hypoxia) in the area. It is not known why this occurs.
Premature infants have a slightly higher risk of developing cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy may also occur during early infancy as a result of several conditions, including:
Bleeding in the brain
Brain infections (encephalitis, meningitis, herpes simplex infections)
Head injury
Infections in the mother during pregnancy (rubella)
Severe jaundice
In some cases, the cause of cerebral palsy is never determined.
PubMed Health, Cerebral palsy
Craniofacial disorders
Craniofacial is a medical term that relates to the bones of the skull and face. Craniofacial abnormalities are birth defects of the face or head. Some, like cleft lip and palate, are among the most common of all birth defects. Others are very rare. Most of them affect how a person's face or head looks. These conditions may also affect other parts of the body.
MedlinePlus, Craniofacial abnormalities
Developmental coordination disorders
Developmental coordination disorder is a childhood disorder that leads to poor coordination and clumsiness. About five percent of shool-age children have some kind of developmental coordination disorder.
Children with this disorder may:
Have trouble holding objects
Have an unsteady walk
Run into other children
Trip over their own feetUniversity of Maryland Medical Center, Developmental Coordination Disorders
Developmental delays
As you watch your child grow, it helps to remember that each child develops at his or her own pace and the range of normal is quite wide. However, it is helpful to be aware of red flags for potential developmental delays in children. These delays are significant lags in one or more areas of emotional, mental, or physical growth. If your child experiences a delay, early treatment is the best way to help him or her make progress or even to catch up.
WebMD, Parenting, Baby, Recognizing Developmental Delays in Children
Down syndrome
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused when abnormal cell division results in extra genetic material from chromosome 21. This genetic disorder, which varies in severity, causes lifelong intellectual disability and developmental delays, and in some people it causes health problems.
Down syndrome is the most common genetic chromosomal disorder and cause of learning disabilities in children.
Better understanding of Down syndrome and early interventions can greatly increase the quality of life for children and adults with this disorder and help them live fulfilling lives.
Mayo Clinic, Diseases and Conditions, Down Syndrome, Definition
Dysphagia
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) means it takes more time and effort to move food or liquid from your mouth to your stomach. Difficulty swallowing may also be associated with pain. In some cases, you may not be able to swallow at all.
Occasional difficulty swallowing usually isn't cause for concern, and may simply occur when you eat too fast or don't chew your food well enough. But persistent difficulty swallowing may indicate a serious medical condition requiring treatment.
Difficulty swallowing can occur at any age, but it's more common in older adults. The causes of swallowing problems vary, and treatment depends on the cause.
Mayo Clinic, Diseases and Conditions, Dysphagia, Definition
Genetic disorders
A pathological condition caused by an absent or defective gene or by a chromosomal aberration. Also called hereditary disease, inherited disorder
The Free Dictionary, Genetic Disorder
Hypotonia
Hypotonia, or severely decreased muscle tone, is seen primarily in children. Low-toned muscles contract very slowly in response to a stimulus and cannot maintain a contraction for as long as a normal muscle. Hypotonia is a symptom that can be caused by many different conditions.
Hypotonia, also called floppy infant syndrome or infantile hypotonia, is a condition of decreased muscle tone. The low muscle tone can be caused by a variety of conditions and is often indicative of the presence of an underlying central nervous system disorder, genetic disorder, or muscle disorder. Muscle tone is the amount of tension or resistance to movement in a muscle. It is not the same as muscle weakness, which is a reduction in the strength of a muscle, but it can co-exist with muscle weakness. Muscle tone indicates the ability of a muscle to respond to a stretch. For example, if the flexed arm of a child with normal tone is quickly straightened, the flexor muscle of the arm (biceps) will quickly contract in response. Once the stimulus is removed, the muscle then relaxes and returns to its normal resting state. A child with low muscle tone has muscles that are slow to start a muscle contraction. Muscles contract very slowly in response to a stimulus and cannot maintain a contraction for as long as a normal muscle. Because low-toned muscles do not fully contract before they again relax, they remain loose and very stretchy, never achieving their full potential of sustaining a muscle contraction over time.
Hypotonic infants, therefore, have a typical "floppy" appearance. They rest with their elbows and knees loosely extended, while infants with normal muscle tone tend to have flexed elbows and knees. Head control is usually poor or absent in the floppy infant with the head falling to the side, backward, or forward. Infants with normal tone can be lifted by placing hands under their armpits, but hypotonic infants tend to slip between the hands as their arms rise unresistingly upward. While most children tend to flex their elbows and knees when resting, hypotonic children hang their arms and legs limply by their sides. Infants with this condition often lag behind in reaching the fine and gross motor developmental milestones that enable infants to hold their heads up when placed on the stomach, balance themselves, or get into a sitting position and remain seated without falling over. Hypotonia is also characterized by problems with mobility and posture, lethargy, weak ligaments and joints, and poor reflexes. Since the muscles that support the bone joints are so soft, there is a tendency for hip, jaw, and neck dislocations to occur. Some hypotonic children also have trouble feeding and are unable to suck or chew for long periods. Others may also have problems with speech or exhibit shallow breathing. Hypotonia does not, however, affect intellect.
Encyclopedia of Children's Health, Hypotonia
Pediatric orthopedic conditions
The word orthopedic refers to the correction or prevention of bone deformities. Orthopedic conditions may be present at birth, such as clubfoot, or may develop over time, such as scoliosis.
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, pediatric Orthopedics
Oral and verbal apraxia
Apraxia of speech, also known as verbal apraxia or dyspraxia, is a speech disorder in which a person has trouble saying what he or she wants to say correctly and consistently. It is not due to weakness or paralysis of the speech muscles (the muscles of the face, tongue, and lips). The severity of apraxia of speech can range from mild to severe.
National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), Apraxia
Pragmatics
Pragmatic language refers to the communicative intent, rules and social aspects of language. It is the way in which language is used to communicate in a variety of different contexts, rather than the way language is structured. A major component of pragmatic language is being able to read the cues of the communication partner and following conversational rules.
North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Pragmatics
Sensory integration disorders
Sensory processing disorder is a condition in which the brain has trouble receiving and responding to information that comes in through the senses.
The condition used to be called sensory integration dysfunction.
Some people with sensory processing disorder are oversensitive to things in their environment. Common sounds may be painful or overwhelming. The light touch of a shirt may chafe the skin.
Others with sensory processing disorder may:
Be uncoordinated
Bump into things
Be unable to tell where their limbs are in space
Be hard to engage in conversation or playSensory processing problems are usually identified in children. But they can also affect adults. Sensory processing problems are commonly seen in developmental disorders like autism.
WebMD, Parenting, Sensory Processing Disorder
Speech and language disorders
When a person is unable to produce speech sounds correctly or fluently, or has problems with his or her voice, then he or she has a speech disorder. Difficulties pronouncing sounds, or articulation disorders, and stuttering are examples of speech disorders.
When a person has trouble understanding others (receptive language), or sharing thoughts, ideas, and feelings completely (expressive language), then he or she has a language disorder. A stroke can result in aphasia, or a language disorder.
Both children and adults can have speech and language disorders. They can occur as a result of a medical problem or have no known cause.
American Speech-Language Hearing Association, Speech Language Disorder
Spina bifida
Is a neural tube defect (a disorder involving incomplete development of the brain, spinal cord, and/or their protective coverings) caused by the failure of the fetus's spine to close properly during the first month of pregnancy. Infants born with SB sometimes have an open lesion on their spine where significant damage to the nerves and spinal cord has occurred. Although the spinal opening can be surgically repaired shortly after birth, the nerve damage is permanent, resulting in varying degrees of paralysis of the lower limbs. Even when there is no lesion present there may be improperly formed or missing vertebrae and accompanying nerve damage. In addition to physical and mobility difficulties, most individuals have some form of learning disability. The types of Spina Bifida (SB) are: myelomeningocele, the severest form, in which the spinal cord and its protective covering (the meninges) protrude from an opening in the spine; meningocele in which the spinal cord develops normally but the meninges and spinal fluid) protrude from a spinal opening; closed neural tube defects, which consist of a group of defects in which development of the spinal cord is affected by malformations of the fat, bone, or meninges; and occulta, the mildest form, in which one or more vertebrae are malformed and covered by a layer of skin. SB may also cause bowel and bladder complications, and many children with SB have hydrocephalus (excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain).
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NINDS Spina Bifida Information Page
Stuttering
Stuttering affects the fluency of speech. It begins during childhood and, in some cases, lasts throughout life. The disorder is characterized by disruptions in the production of speech sounds, also called "disfluencies." Most people produce brief disfluencies from time to time. For instance, some words are repeated and others are preceded by "um" or "uh." Disfluencies are not necessarily a problem; however, they can impede communication when a person produces too many of them.
In most cases, stuttering has an impact on at least some daily activities. The specific activities that a person finds challenging to perform vary across individuals. For some people, communication difficulties only happen during specific activities, for example, talking on the telephone or talking before large groups. For most others, however, communication difficulties occur across a number of activities at home, school, or work. Some people may limit their participation in certain activities. Such "participation restrictions" often occur because the person is concerned about how others might react to disfluent speech. Other people may try to hide their disfluent speech from others by rearranging the words in their sentence (circumlocution), pretending to forget what they wanted to say, or declining to speak. Other people may find that they are excluded from participating in certain activities because of stuttering. Clearly, the impact of stuttering on daily life can be affected by how the person and others react to the disorder.
American Speech-Language Hearing Association, Stuttering
Torticollis
Unlike many health conditions that develop silently inside the body, pediatric torticollis is easy to see from the outside. You can recognize it when your child’s head persistently tilts to one side.
The word “torticollis” itself comes from two Latin root words, “tortus” and “collum,” that together mean “twisted neck.” This condition, sometimes called wryneck, is relatively common in children.
In general, torticollis is classified as either congenital (present at birth) or acquired (occurring later in infancy or childhood). By far the most common type is congenital muscular torticollis. Although children have this when they are born, parents may not notice it until children are several weeks old, as they start to gain more control of their head movement.
Congenital muscular torticollis responds very well to physical therapy, especially when it’s started early. Sometimes it is associated with plagiocephaly, a common and treatable condition in which there is asymmetry in the shape of the head and face. This happens because the forces of gravity pull unevenly on a baby’s tilted head, causing a flattened appearance on one side of the skull or face.
Acquired torticollis typically occurs in the first 4 to 6 months of childhood or later. It may come on quickly or slowly. In contrast to congenital muscular torticollis, there is usually no facial asymmetry with acquired torticollis.
Acquired torticollis can be benign (not serious) or a sign of more serious health issues. Because the causes can be so different, it is very important to act quickly so that your child can get the proper care and treatment.
Note: Pediatric torticollis is different from another condition, called spasmodic torticollis, that affects adults.
Boston Children's Hospital, Health-topics, Torticollis