Connective Tissue Injuries

Bursitis 

A bursa is a fluid filled sac that provides lubrication around a joint. Bursitis occurs when this sac becomes inflamed, often due to  sudden injury, overuse, or repetitive stress on the joint, leading to pain and swelling.

There are many bursea in the body and some areas of the body are more prone to bursitis including: 

Hip bursitis – Trochanteric bursitis and iliopsoas bursitis are the most common types of hip bursitis. 

Knee & elbow bursitis- Are  common resulting in significant swelling around the joint. 

Shoulder bursitis- There are four bursae in the shoulder that can become inflamed leading to: subacromial bursitis, subdeltoid bursitis, subcoracoid bursitis, and subscapular bursitis.

Signs and symptoms of bursitis include: 
  • pain
  • swelling around a joint (sometimes seen more in certain joints than others like the elbow or knee)
  • warmness in the joint
  • tender to touch
  • pain at night 
  • decreased range of motion or stiffness of the joint 
  • difficulty moving the joint
  • dull achiness 
Iliotibial (IT) Band Syndrome

IT band syndrome is caused by inflammation and irritation of the iliotibial band leading to pain on the outside of the knee. It is common in repetitive sports that involve jumping and running including basketball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, dancing, cycling, biking, and gymnastics. 

Signs and symptoms of IT band syndrome include: 
  • pain or achiness on the outside of the knee
  • clicking feeling on the outside of the knee
  • pain in the outside hip area or along the outside of the leg
  • stiffness of the knee
  • pain in the outside of the knee when sitting or standing for long periods
  • swelling outside of the knee
  • pain that increases with activity
Plantar fasciitis 

The plantar fascia is a connective tissue that is located along the bottom of the foot. Due to limited blood supply, it can take longer to heal, and when irritated, it often causes pain during walking, standing, or any weight-bearing activity.  The discomfort is commonly worse in the morning with the first few steps. At Abbotsford Sports & Orthopaedic Physiotherapy, we offer shockwave therapy, which can effectively relieve symptoms of plantar fasciitis. 

Signs and symptoms of plantar fasciitis include: 
  • pain at the bottom of your foot
  • pain with walking
  • pain in bottom of foot with first couple steps in the morning
  • footwear can sometimes alleviate pain 
  • mild foot swelling 
  • stiffness or tightness at the arch of your foot 
  • bottom of the foot pain worse when standing for long periods or walking
Treatment options: 
  • manual therapy & manipulation 
  • patient education 
  • soft tissue release therapy 
  • exercise rehabilitation & home exercise programs 
  • Intramuscular Stimulation 
  • Cervical & lumbar traction 
  • Shockwave therapy
  • LASER therapy 
  • ultrasound 
  • therapeutic taping (K taping, sprain taping, joint taping)
  • sport injury prevention
  • electrotherapy 
  • cryotherapy/ heat therapy 
  • instrument assisted soft tissue release 
  • kinesiology 
  • passive and active stretching