Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre Pickleball is a fun, social sport that combines quick movements, short sprints, lunges, and repetitive paddle swings. As participation continues to grow, so does the number of pickleball-related injuries. Why Do Pickleball Injuries Happen? Pickleball is often considered a relatively low-impact sport, but it still requires frequent accelerations, decelerations, changes of direction, lunges, reaching, and

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre A stress fracture is a small crack in a bone caused by repetitive loading rather than one major injury. Learn about stress fracture symptoms, causes, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, healing time, and how physiotherapy can help you safely return to exercise and sport. What Is a Stress Fracture? A stress fracture is a small crack or area of damage within a bone that develops when repetitive forces exce

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre An avulsion fracture occurs when a tendon or ligament pulls hard enough to break off a small piece of bone. Learn about avulsion fracture symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, healing time, and how physiotherapy can help you safely return to sport and everyday activities. What Is an Avulsion Fracture? An avulsion fracture occurs when a tendon or ligament attached to a bone is subjected to a sudden, fo

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre A fracture is a break or crack in a bone, but not all fractures are the same. Learn about different types of fractures, what they can look like on an X-ray, how fractures are diagnosed and treated, typical healing times, and how physiotherapy can help you safely return to everyday activities, work, and sport. What Is a Fracture? A fracture occurs when a force applied to a bone exceeds its ability to wit

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre A jammed finger is a common sports injury that can cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and difficulty bending or straightening the finger What Is a Jammed Finger? A jammed finger is a common term used to describe an injury that occurs when a finger is suddenly forced, bent, or compressed. It frequently happens during sports when a ball strikes the end of the finger or when a finger catches on another player

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre Subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS) is a common cause of shoulder pain, particularly with reaching overhead, lifting, exercising, or lying on the affected side. What Is Subacromial Pain Syndrome? Subacromial pain syndrome (SAPS) is a common shoulder condition characterized by pain around the shoulder, often during activities that involve lifting or raising the arm. You may have previously heard this condit

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre Spondylosis refers to age- and load-related changes in the spine that can affect the discs, joints, and surrounding structures. While these changes are common, they do not always cause pain. What Is Spondylosis? Spondylosis is a general term used to describe degenerative changes that occur in the spine over time. It can affect different areas of the spine, including the: Cervical spine – neck Thoraci

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre Little League elbow is an overuse injury that can cause pain on the inside of the elbow in young athletes who participate in throwing sports/activities (not just baseball!). It can be frustrating for young athletes who want to continue playing their sport. The good news is that with appropriate activity modification, rehabilitation, and a gradual return-to-throwing program, many young athletes can safely r

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre What Is the MCL? The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is a strong band of tissue located on the inside of your knee. It connects the thighbone (femur) to the shinbone (tibia) and helps stabilize the knee, particularly against forces that push the knee inward. An MCL injury occurs when the ligament is stretched beyond its normal capacity. This can happen from a direct blow to the outside of the knee, a

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre An ACL tear can be classified as partial or complete, depending on how much of the ligament has been damaged. What Is the ACL? The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the major ligaments inside the knee. It helps control forward movement and rotation of the shinbone relative to the thighbone and contributes to knee stability during activities such as running, jumping, and changing direction. An

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre What Is a Groin Strain? A groin strain usually involves an injury to one or more of the adductor muscles, which are located along the inside of the thigh. These muscles help bring your leg toward the midline of your body and contribute to stability and control during activities such as running, jumping, and changing direction. Groin strains are particularly common in sports that involve sprinting, kickin

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre A hamstring strain is a common sports injury involving a stretch or tear of one or more of the muscles at the back of the thigh. Hamstring injuries are particularly common in sports that involve sprinting, jumping, sudden acceleration, or rapid changes in direction, such as soccer, basketball, track and field, and hockey. What Is a Hamstring Strain? The hamstring muscle group consists of three major mus

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre Experiencing joint pain, stiffness, or swelling? Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis have similar symptoms but very different causes and approaches to treatment. Understanding the difference between osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can help you find the right care and management strategies. What Is Osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. It involv

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre What Is Tennis Elbow? Tennis elbow, or lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET), is a common condition involving the tendons that attach the forearm muscles to the outside of the elbow. Despite its name, you do not need to play tennis to develop it. Tennis elbow commonly causes pain and tenderness around the outside of the elbow, particularly during activities that involve gripping, lifting, twisting, or repet

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre What Is Knee Osteoarthritis? Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis affecting the knee joint. It is a condition where the tissues inside the knee gradually change over time, including the breakdown of cartilage that helps the joint move smoothly. These changes can lead to pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced function. Although knee osteoarthritis is often associated with aging,

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre What Is Shoulder Dislocation? The shoulder is the most commonly dislocated joint in the body due to its wide range of motion and relatively shallow socket. It occurs when the ball of the upper arm bone (humeral head) comes completely out of the shoulder socket (glenoid). It often causes severe pain and immediate loss of shoulder function. Common Signs and Symptoms Sudden, severe shoulder pain A visib

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre Pain in the back of the ankle can make walking, running, or climbing stairs uncomfortable. Two common Achilles tendon injuries are Achilles tendinopathy and an Achilles tendon rupture. While both affect the same tendon, they are very different conditions that require different treatment approaches. Recognizing the signs early can help you receive the appropriate care and improve your recovery. What Is the

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre Do you experience headaches that seem to begin in your neck or the base of your skull, especially after sitting for a long time? Your symptoms may be related to a cervicogenic headache, a type of headache caused by issues involving the joints, muscles, or nerves of the upper neck. While headaches can have many different causes, some headaches are linked to dysfunction in the cervical spine. Physiotherapy f

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre A meniscal tear is a common knee injury that can cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and difficulty with activities such as walking, squatting, running, or playing sports. The meniscus plays an important role in knee stability and shock absorption, and injuries can occur from sudden twisting movements or gradual changes over time. What Is a Meniscal Tear? The knee contains two menisci: the medial meniscus o

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre Do you experience burning, tingling, or numbness in your foot, especially around the inside of your ankle or the bottom of your foot? These symptoms may be caused by tarsal tunnel syndrome, a condition involving irritation or compression of the tibial nerve as it travels through the ankle. While foot nerve pain can be frustrating, many people improve with conservative treatment, including physiotherapy, act