Piriformis syndrome is glute or buttocks pain that may cause radiating symptoms down the back of the leg such as burning pain or numbness and tingling due to entrapment of the sciatic nerve. The piriformis muscle is one the glute muscles responsible for hip abduction, extension, and external rotation and a large contributor to pelvic…
Case Study: Neck Pain with Radiating Arm Pain and Headaches
Introduction: 22 to 70% of the population will have neck pain at some point in their lives. Prevalence of neck pain increases with age and is most common in women around the 5th decade of life. The greatest risk factors for developing neck pain are female sex and prior history of neck pain. Other risk…
Understand Pain Mechanisms to Formulate a Physical Therapy Diagnosis
There are three primary types of pain mechanisms to consider when formulating a physical therapy diagnosis to choose the most effective set of objective tests and measures, as well as treatments. We will cover the characteristics of these pain mechanisms and how to integrate them into your current clinical reasoning framework. 1. Nociplastic Pain (central…
Physical Therapy Case Study: Plantar Fasciitis
Introduction: Plantar Fasciitis is the most common foot condition treated by healthcare providers. It is estimated that plantar fasciitis occurs in approximately 2 million Americans each year and affects as much as 10% of the population over the course of a lifetime. The prevalence is high in both the non-athletic and athletic populations. Risk factors…