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

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre Has your child or teenager developed a painful bump just below the kneecap after playing sports? They may have Osgood-Schlatter disease, one of the most common causes of knee pain in growing children and adolescents. Despite its name, Osgood-Schlatter disease is not actually a disease. It is a temporary overuse injury that affects the growth plate at the top of the shinbone. With proper management and reh

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre Does one of your fingers catch, lock, or click when you try to bend or straighten it? You may have trigger finger, a common condition that affects the tendons in the hand. While it can make everyday activities frustrating, many people improve with conservative treatment and are able to avoid surgery. What Is Trigger Finger? Trigger finger, also known as stenosing flexor tenosynovitis, occurs when one of

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre Do you experience pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in your shoulder, arm, or hand? While these symptoms are often associated with the neck or wrist, they can sometimes be caused by thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). Thoracic outlet syndrome is a condition in which nerves or blood vessels become compressed as they pass from the neck into the arm. Although it can be frustrating, many people improve with co

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre Pain on the thumb side of your wrist when lifting your baby, opening a jar, or gripping objects? You may have De Quervain's syndrome, a common condition that often affects new parents and caregivers. Although it can make everyday tasks uncomfortable, most people recover well with conservative treatment, including physiotherapy, activity modifications, Picture of woman in a pink shirt holding a baby in a ye

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre Have you been told you have degenerative disc disease (DDD) after an X-ray or MRI? While the name may sound concerning, it does not mean your spine is "crumbling" or that pain is inevitable. In fact, many people with degenerative changes have little to no pain and continue to live active, healthy lives. With the right treatment, education, and exercise, most people can effectively manage symptoms and maint

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre Do you experience burning pain in the ball of your foot or feel like you're walking on a pebble? These symptoms could be caused by Morton's neuroma, a common condition that affects the nerves between the toes. Although it can make walking and standing uncomfortable, many people experience significant improvement with conservative treatment, including physiotherapy, footwear modifications, and activity cha

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre Is your child complaining of heel pain after running or playing sports? They may have Sever’s disease, one of the most common causes of heel pain in growing children and adolescents. Despite its name, Sever’s disease is not actually a disease. It is a temporary overuse injury that affects the growth plate in the heel and typically resolves once a child finishes growing. With the right treatment, most chil

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre Feeling pain at the front of your hip after running, kicking, or exercising? You may be dealing with a hip flexor strain. This common sports injury can affect athletes and active individuals, but it can also occur from everyday activities involving repetitive hip movements. With proper rehabilitation, most people can recover well and safely return to their normal activities. What Is a Hip Flexor Strain?

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre Rolled your ankle during sports or exercise? Not all ankle sprains are the same. While most ankle sprains involve the ligaments on the outside of the ankle, some injuries affect a different group of ligaments higher up the ankle and can take significantly longer to heal. Understanding the difference between a high ankle sprain and a low ankle sprain can help you seek the right treatment and return to activ

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre Do you spend hours working at a computer, studying, or scrolling on your phone? If so, you may have experienced "tech neck”. Tech neck is a common condition caused by prolonged forward head posture and extended periods of sitting. Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints worldwide, and increasing screen time has contributed to a rise in neck and upper back discomfort in both adults a

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre Experiencing numbness, tingling, or pain in your hand, especially at night? You may be dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), one of the most common nerve conditions affecting the wrist and hand. What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which travels from the forearm into the hand, becomes compressed as it passes through a narrow space in the wrist called t

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre Experiencing low back pain that doesn't seem to improve? The source of your pain may not be your spine at all. In some cases, pain originates from the sacroiliac (SI) joint, a commonly overlooked cause of lower back and pelvic pain. What Is SI Joint Dysfunction? The sacroiliac joints are two joints located where the sacrum (the triangular bone at the bottom of the spine) meets the pelvis. These joints he

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre A bulging disc is a common finding that can occur in the spine and may or may not cause symptoms. Many people have bulging discs visible on imaging without experiencing any pain. However, when a bulging disc irritates nearby joints, tissues, or nerves, it may contribute to back pain, stiffness, or symptoms that travel into the arms or legs. What Is a Bulging Disc? Your spine is made up of individual bones

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre A herniated disc is a common spinal condition that can cause back pain, stiffness, and sometimes pain that travels into the legs. What Is a Herniated Disc? Your spine is made up of individual bones called vertebrae, which are separated by small, cushion-like structures called intervertebral discs. These discs help absorb shock and allow your spine to move comfortably. Each disc has two main parts: Nuc

Reviewed by the Physiotherapy Team at Waterloo Sports Medicine Centre Twisting your ankle during sports, exercise, or even stepping off a curb can lead to pain, swelling, and difficulty walking. But is it an ankle sprain or an ankle strain? While these injuries have similar symptoms, they affect different tissues and may require slightly different treatment approaches. What Is an Ankle Sprain? An ankle sprain occurs when one or more ligaments (the tough bands of tissue tha