Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal symptom that may be either acute or chronic involving the muscles or bones of the back. It may be caused by a variety of diseases and disorders that affect the lumbar spine. It affects a large number of people at some point in their lives.

Some causes:

• Trauma – A fall or a road traffic accident can result in injuries to back muscles, tendons, ligaments,
  spinal joints, and vertebral discs.
• Overuse or Abuse – Injury may occur during sports activities and physical exercises.  Muscle and
  soft tissue injuries may occur if a person has insufficient flexibility for the demands of the exercise, or if
  the muscles are not strong enough for the activity.
• Repetitive Movements – muscle and soft tissue injuries can occur if they do not have strength or the
  capacity to tolerate the activity.
• Poor Posture – Prolonged sitting in a poor posture makes it more susceptible to having low back pain.

Slipped (or herniated) disc
The spine is made up of vertebrae, discs and nerves. Vertebrae are the blocks shaped bone that makes up the structure of the spine which ultimately protect the nerves.

Between the vertebrae are discs that provide support and cushion for movement and protection. The discs are made from a tough, fibrous tissue that contains a soft gel-like substance. A slipped disc occurs when pressure on the spine forces the disc to rupture (split) which pushes the gel inside to bulge and protrude outwards between the vertebrae and onto the spinal cord.

Sciatica is any sort of pain that is caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body and it runs from the back of your pelvis, through your buttocks, and all the way down both legs, ending at your feet.

When something compresses or irritates the sciatic nerve, it can cause a pain that radiates out from the lower back and travels down the leg to the calf. Sciatic pain can range from being mild to very painful. In most cases it is more usually caused by the restriction of the sciatic nerve as it passes through the pelvic area, through the piriformis muscle and its fascial surrounding.

Neck Pain can be caused by many problems from an injury to a muscular problem and more. The pain can range from mild to severe discomfort and can be ‘acute’ pain that is sudden or intense ‘chronic’ pain that lasts for months.

Neck pain is a common condition and most people will experience pain in the neck at some point in their life.

Some causes:

• Trauma or injury
• Worry and stress
• Falling asleep in an awkward position
• Prolonged use of a computer keyboard
• Slipped disc
• Road traffic

My experience has shown me that neck and shoulder pain is easily treated. Education is the key! I explain what muscles appear to be causing the problem and show you ways in which you can help eliminate the pain. Yes posture will be an issue but only part of the problem. Yes tension will be an issue but only part of the problem. Yes repetitive movment will be an issue but only part of the problem. Yes degeneration will be an issue but only part of the problem. BUT ….whats really important is …HOW we speak to ourselves when we are in pain… How much do we worry about this pain…do we get fearful that there is something really seriously wrong…there is proven evidence that these thoughts make the pain much worse.

Frozen shoulder is also known as capsulitis or shoulder contracture. There are various degrees of this condition from a stiff shoulder to total restriction of movement. Frozen shoulder usually develops gradually, often making everyday activities, such as brushing hair and teeth or putting on clothes, driving painful if not impossible and even affect sleep.

Frozen shoulder occurs when the flexible tissue that envelopes the shoulder joint known as ‘capsule’ becomes inflamed and thickened (bands of scar tissue form). The upper arm bone has less space in the joint, which limits movements – it is unsure why this happens.

One of the most common forms of hand, wrist and arm pain is ‘Carpal Tunnel syndrome’ (CTS) that is brought about by entrapment of the median nerve between the carpal bones of the wrist and the carpal ligament.

The carpal tunnel is a passageway in the wrist which allows the nerves, tendons and blood vessels to pass through to the hand from the forearm. As it is a narrow tunnel of bone and cartilage it can easily become restricted even with the smallest amount of compression.

CTS is an occupational hazard and caused by anyone who performs repetitive movements for several hours every day, for example people who use keyboards, musicians, factory workers and check out clerks.

CTS can appear as narrowing and inflammation in the carpal tunnel. This causes pressure up the arm, via nerves and tendons and other soft tissues, and tightness in the muscles and soft tissues of the neck and shoulders. Tingling and poor circulation are common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

It is diagnosed as the impingement or entrapment of the nerves in the wrist, a narrowing of the wrists ‘carpal tunnel’.

The cause is likely to be trigger points and fascial restrictions that are in the neck, the shoulders and the chest area instead of the carpal tunnel (wrist) itself.

Some Symptoms

• Throbbing and persistent pain that moves towards the arms into the wrist, hands and fingers
• Deep throbbing or dull pain when resting or using arms or hands
• Shooting pains
• Tingling ‘pins and needles’
• Burning sensations
• Numbness
• Dull persistent pain at night
• Tightness or stiffness in the shoulders, neck or chest
• Weak grip
• Inability to type or use a keyboard
• Reduction in range of movement or pain with movement

Tennis elbow is a condition that is also known as Epicondylitis. It is usually caused by overusing the forearm muscles attached to the elbow that are used to straighten out the wrist. Usually there is painfull inflammation around the joint and tiny tears of the tendons (near the elbow joint the lateral epicondyle) which result in restricted movement. It is similar to golfer’s elbow, the only difference being the location of the tendons affected as they are on the inner side.

As the name suggests, tennis elbow is sometimes caused by playing tennis. However, tennis elbow is a common symptom of repetitive strain injury (RSI) conditions, caused by repetitive stress on the elbow joint, such as decorating, playing the violin or a leisure activity such as gardening.

Some Symptoms

• On the outside of the forearm
• When lifting or bending your arm
• When gripping small objects
• When twisting your forearm (turning door handle)
• You may find it difficult to fully extend forearm

During my treatments I will seek to release muscles, trigger points and fascia all around the affected area. Careful re-balancing of all the muscles around the joint as the tissues have literally become stuck and to teach simple exercises and stretches which will bring relief and keep the area from becoming restricted again.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome, also known as (jaw joint dysfunction), is a serious and painful condition that affects the jaw joints and the surrounding muscles. TMJ is characterised by limited and painful movement of the jaw which can impact significantly on quality of life.

Some Symptoms

• Clicking, popping or grating noises as you chew or move your mouth
• Muscle spasms around the jaw
• Pain in front of the ear that may spread to cheek ear and temple
• Difficulty opening the mouth – jaw may feel tight
• Difficulty eating
• Headache or earache
• Tinnitus

The causes can be stress which results in clenching of the jaw and teeth or grinding of teeth during sleep, which overworks the jaw muscles and puts pressure on the joint; misalignment of the teeth or jaw and extensive dental work; wear and tear of the inside of the jaw joint, usually caused by osteoarthritis; a disease causing inflammation of the jaw joint such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout; or injury to the jaw joint.

Medical advice should be sought before starting any course of complementary therapy. Historically the medical treatment for TMJ was surgery and implants although this has been for many years controversial and a more conservative approach now tends to be taken which includes medication, steroid injections, dental splints, behavioural and physical therapy.

Headaches and Migraines can be due to tightening and restricting of muscles and fascia in the neck and shoulders. One common cause is stress which in turn causes muscle tension, particularly in the neck, head and shoulders. Sometimes the pain could be caused by trigger points which keep the muscle fibers permanently contracted or expanded which refer to pain to other areas of the body. This produces a pattern of chronic headaches and migraines.

Some Symptoms

• Pain sweeping up the neck and behind and over the ear ‘the question mark’
• Stabbing pain behind the eye
• Pain across the front of the foreheadVice like pain around the head
• Pain under the bony ridge at the back of the skull
• Pain around the neck, particularly when the moving the head
• Dizziness or giddiness
• Nausea
• Accompanying nerve pain ’neuralgia’ in the face, jaw and eye areas
• Extreme sensitivity to light and sound
• Because there are other possible causes of headaches and migraines it is important to seek suitably-qualified medical advice before opting exclusively for complementary therapies

During my treatments I will seek to do Trigger Point Therapy and Myofascial release which can help with Headaches and Migraines by releasing all the trigger points, fascia and connective tissue in the neck and shoulder area, and rebalancing all the muscles involved.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) is the name given to pain caused by trigger points and fascial (connective tissue) adhesions in the body, usually in muscle tissue. Fascia is the network of connective soft tissue that runs throughout the body like a 3d web. It can sustain various types of damage such as tears and restrictions from impact or overuse.

Symptoms may include deep, aching and stabbing pain, may feel dead or heavy but still be able to feel the lightest of touches, pain may be variable and unpredictable, sharp and shooting nerve pains, tingling, slight numbness, and a possible loss of function.

Fibromyalgia is also called Fibromyalgia syndrome which is a long term condition that causes you to ‘hurt all over’ – widespread chronic pain and is also associated with extreme tiredness.

Other Symptoms

• Difficulty sleeping
• Fibro fog (mental confusion)
• Headaches
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Muscle stiffness and weakness

The causes of fibromyalgia are unclear and we don’t know what actually causes it – so people are in pain but no one has Fibromyalgia until it is diagnosed. Please see the following link for a fascinating one minute description.

http://www.youtube.com/user/OneMinuteMedSchool

Although research suggests there may be connections with viral infections, immune system problems and/or a genetic disposition. Some sources suggest there are two types of fibromyalgia: primary fibromyalgia which has uncertain origins, and post-traumatic fibromyalgia which is thought to develop after whiplash, a fall or back strain.

Pain symptoms are generally accompanied by stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, poor quality sleep and low level of hormones.

Advanced massage and myofascial release for clients with fibromyalgia requires a gentle and understanding approach. Sessions may vary in intensity and will always be dictated by how the client feels at the time of session. Clients are encouraged to keep to their range of movement (ROM) and improve posture.

Scar Tissue and Adhesions are the body’s own mechanism for healing areas which have been physically cut or torn in the body. They are ‘velcro-like’ bonds between layers of connective tissue.

For the most part they are doing an important job in ‘holding things together’ after an accident, burn, ulcers, injury and or surgery. The surgery may have been necessary but even the most careful and brilliant surgery damages the soft, connective tissues of the body leaving unknown quantities of internal scar tissue and external scars that can cause their own problems.

The medical answer to this may often mean more surgery to remove the adhesions which can cause immediate pain in the damaged area or referred pain elsewhere in the body. If a trigger point forms, it can get locked into place by adhesions between the layers of the connective tissue.

Some Symptoms

• Pain in the damaged area
• Referred pain elsewhere in the body
• A drag-like effect on other areas of the body, blood vessels, compressed nerves, organs, restricted
  physical movement and physiological functioning
• Numbness
• Valleys, Ravines or Ridges where scar tissue has hardened
• A sense that the scarred area does not belong to the body

During my treatments I will seek to do work on the Trigger Points and do complimentary Myofascial release in a gentle, non-invasive therapy way. This will be specifically designed to work on the soft tissues of the body. Treatments will vary in intensity and will always be dictated by how the client feels at the time.

This syndrome occurs when the tight muscles in the neck called the scalene impinge on a big nerve bundle called the Brachial plexus. When this happens, pain, tingling and numbness in the arm and fingers can result. Reducing the tension in all the associated muscles can be of great relief.

The piriformis is a deep muscle which helps in rotation of the hip away from the body. This enables us to walk, shift our weight from one leg to another and maintain balance. The piriformis muscle is a flat, strap-like muscle situated in the buttocks from the top of the hip joint to the outer leg. The disorder is caused when the piriformis muscle compresses the sciatic nerve and causes pain to run down the back of the thigh and/or down the whole leg. The sciatic nerve can run underneath the piriformis and in some cases it can run through the piriformis – when the muscle tightens and becomes hard it can restrict and exert pressure onto the sciatic nerve.

During my treatment I will seek to release muscles, trigger points and fascia all around the affected area and to teach you simple exercises and stretches which will bring relief and keep the area from becoming restricted again.

PMS is brought on by the pectoralis minor muscle pressing on the bracial plexus which causes pain and tingling down the arm.

Characterised by the head being rotated to one side and slightly extended backwards. This is due to certain muscles in the neck being very tight and restricted namely the posterior cervicals and the Sternocleidomastoid (SCM). It is common for the condition to occur when we sleep in an awkward position and our muscles are strained in the process. There is also a chance that people can be born with this condition.

During my treatments I will seek to release muscles, trigger points and fascia all around the affected area. Careful re-balancing of all the muscles around the joint as the tissues have literally become stuck and to teach simple exercises and stretches which will bring relief and keep the area from becoming restricted again.

Its a common complaint of the foot which usually afflicts many people such as runners, ramblers and anyone who basically stands for long periods of time without resting, It is a Repetative Strain Injury (RSI) that can be very debilitating and last for a long time.

The usual pain is in the foot arch and heel which can appear regularly when you wake up in the morning.

It is the most common name for Knee pain which is around and behind the kneecap. It can affect a variety of people at somepoint in the their life but usually it afflicts runners, ramblers and surprisingly anyone who sits for longer period of time without regular movement such as office workers.

The pain is can come and go quite quickly and it can also stay for long periods of time. The pain can appear when climbing stairs or sitting for long periods of time and can be debilitating.