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Bones, muscles and joints
Kōiwi me pona

AC (acromioclavicular) joint injury

Your AC (acromioclavicular) joint is the joint at the outer end of your collar bone (clavicle). Injuries to this joint usually happen because you have fallen directly onto your shoulder. An injured AC joint can range from mild to severe.

ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury

Your ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is 1 of 2 ligaments inside your knee joint. It is in the front of your knee joint. The ACL stabilises your knee when you twist or pivot it. An injury can be to just the ligament, or it may involve other parts of your knee.

Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of arthritis that causes back pain. It mainly affects your lower spine, but it can also affect your ankles, knees, shoulders and eyes.

Baker's cyst (popliteal cyst)

A Baker’s cyst is a fluid-filled swelling that can develop behind your knee. It is more common in women and usually develops after the age of 40.

Broken arm or elbow

Your arm is made up of 3 long bones. These bones often break after a fall, while playing sport and in vehicle accidents, as we use our arms to stabilise and catch ourselves.

Broken collar bone (fractured clavicle)

A broken collar bone is a very common injury in people of all ages. Your collar bone (clavicle) sits between your breastbone (sternum) and shoulder blade (scapula). It connects your arm to the rest of your body. It helps give your shoulder its full movement.

Broken finger (fractured finger)

Finger bones may be small but a broken (fractured) finger can cause ongoing problems if it is not treated well. The finger may stay stiff, painful and difficult to use. It can affect your ability to use your hand.

Broken hand bones

A break (fracture) in one of the long bones in your hands (called metacarpals) is relatively common. It often happens with other hand and wrist injuries, such as a sprained or dislocated joint, broken fingers or a broken wrist.

Broken hip

Broken hips (hip fractures) are breaks in the top of the thigh bone (femur) close to the hip joint. They are sometimes called a fractured neck of femur.

Broken knee bones

Your knee joint is made up of the end of your thigh bone (the femur), the top of your tibia (one of the bones of your lower leg) and your kneecap (the patella). You can break any of these bones.

Broken kneecap (fractured patella)

Your kneecap (patella) is the bone that sits in front of your knee joint. It is held in place by a tendon. A broken kneecap is a common injury because your kneecap acts as a shield to protect your knee joint.

Heel and foot pain (plantar fasciitis)

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of pain under one of your heels. The plantar fascia is a strong flat band of connective tissue (like a ligament). It acts like a bow string and supports the arch of your foot by connecting your heel bone to the bones in the front of your foot.

Broken lower leg (fractured tibia or fibula)

Your shinbone (tibia) and calf bone (fibula) are the long bones in your lower leg and are important parts of your knee and ankle joints. The shinbone is the larger bone and supports most of your weight. It is also the most common long bone to be broken.

Broken wrist

Your wrist is made up of the 2 forearm bones (radius and ulna) and 8 small bones (carpals), which are between your forearm and hand. A break in any of the bones can cause pain and problems with movement and the use of your hand.

Bursitis

Bursitis is inflammation of a small fluid-filled sac (bursa) that sits near one of your bones. These sacs (bursae) help to protect the tissues that slide over the bone when you move. You have more than 150 sacs (bursae) in your body.

Care of your arm and hand while in a wrist cast

Your wrist has been put in a cast to stop it from moving. This is so your bones can heal properly in a good position.

Care of your wrist and hand after a fracture

Not all wrist and hand fractures are the same. It is important to follow the advice from your healthcare providers. If you have questions, ask your hand therapist, physiotherapist, doctor or orthopaedic nurse.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

A condition that causes pain, tingling and numbness in your hand when the median nerve running through your wrist is squeezed.

Costochondritis

Costochondritis is an inflammation of the front part of your rib cage. This is the part that connects your ribs to your breastbone (sternum) and is called the costal cartilage. It is a common cause of chest pain.

De Quervain's tenosynovitis

De Quervain's tenosynovitis is a painful wrist condition affecting the 2 tendons that control your thumb. The tendons are on the back of your hand and run down the back of your thumb and the side of your wrist.

Dislocated kneecap (dislocated patella)

Your kneecap (patella) is the bone at the front of your knee. It sits in a shallow groove at the end of your thigh bone (femur). Dislocation means your kneecap slips out of this groove. It usually slips sideways and outwards, tearing the ligament on the other side.

Dupuytren contracture

A Dupuytren contracture is a hand condition where thickened tissue under the skin slowly pulls one or more fingers into a bent position, making it hard to straighten them fully.

Exercises for your shoulders

Do these exercises at home to help with common shoulder problems.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes tiredness and widespread muscle pain. Fibromyalgia can have a big impact on your quality of life and can affect you long term. It is not life threatening.

Frozen shoulder

A frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) happens when the capsule of thin tissue that covers your shoulder joint becomes thicker and inflamed. This can make it harder to move your shoulder.

Ganglion cyst

A ganglion is a fluid-filled swelling or cyst that is near a tendon or joint. Ganglion cysts look like smooth soft lumps under the skin. They are not harmful and are not cancer.

Gout

A form of arthritis caused by a build up of uric acid. Gout attacks cause severe pain and swelling in the joints and can lead to complications if left untreated.

Groin strains

A groin strain happens when the inner thigh muscles are overstretched or torn. They often happen due to sport or sudden movement, causing pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the leg.

Hip and groin pain

Hip and groin pain is aching or discomfort around the hip joint or inner thigh crease, often caused by injury, arthritis or muscle strain. It is common in people of all ages.

Hip labral tears

Your hip joint has a rim of cartilage called the labrum. The labrum helps keep fluid in your hip joint. This cushions your hip joint when you do activities like walking, running and jumping. A labral tear is an injury that damages the labrum.

Inflammatory arthritis

When your body mistakenly uses its immune system to attack the area between your joints. Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis are forms of inflammatory arthritis.

Knee injuries

The knee is the largest joint in your body. Parts of your knee that are commonly injured include the soft tissue, like the cartilage, ligaments and tendons, or the bone.

Leg cramp

Leg cramp is common and harmless but can be very painful and can affect your sleep, exercise routine and quality of life. It usually happens at night or when you are resting.

Low back pain

Low back pain is very common. Most people will experience it at some point in their lives. It is usually not caused by serious damage and you can manage it safely with the right information and support.

Lower body strengthening exercises

Lower limb strengthening exercises can help you recover from an injury. They can also be helpful if you have osteoporosis or osteoarthritis and need to strengthen your lower body.

Mallet finger

Mallet finger is the name for an injury that results in the tip of your finger bending downward, so you can no longer straighten it. It can usually be treated by wearing a splint.

Neck pain

Many people suffer from neck pain, and it can have a variety of causes. The most common are injury and arthritis.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes your joints to become painful and stiff. It is the most common type of arthritis.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition that causes your bones to be thinner and weaker than normal. This means they can break (fracture) easily.

Polymyalgia rheumatica

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a condition that causes inflammation, pain and stiffness in your shoulders, neck and hips. It mainly affects people over 60, but the cause is not known. Some people with it go on to develop a more serious condition called giant cell arteritis.

Rib injuries

Rib injuries include broken and bruised ribs. You usually injure your ribs due to a force on your chest.

Rotator cuff problems

Your rotator cuff is a group of muscles and their tendons that surround your shoulder joint, keeping the head of your upper arm bone firmly in your shoulder socket.

Shin pain (shin splints)

Leg pain along the front of your leg between your knee and ankle (your shin) is commonly called shin splints. The medical name for it is medial tibial stress.

Sjögren's syndrome

Sjögren's syndrome (pronounced 'show grins') is a long-term condition that mainly affects the glands that make tears and saliva. But it can also affect your joints, muscles, nerves and other organs. It is much more common in women and usually occurs after the age of 40.

Spinal injuries

Your spinal cord runs from the top of your neck to your tailbone. It is protected by the bones in your spine. A spinal injury is when your spinal cord is damaged.

Tennis and golfer's elbow

Elbow tendinopathy is a common cause of elbow pain. When this happens on the outside of your elbow (the lateral epicondyle) it is called tennis elbow. Pain on the inside (the medial epicondyle) is called golfer's elbow.

Trigger finger

Trigger finger is when the tendons in your finger become locked after you bend it, making your finger difficult to straighten.

Unstable shoulders and dislocations

Your shoulder joints are the most mobile joints in your body. A dislocated shoulder is common and requires immediate medical help.

Upper body strengthening exercises

Upper limb strengthening exercises can help you recover from an injury. They can also be helpful if you have a condition that means you will benefit from strengthening your upper body.

Using a pair of crutches

Find out how to adjust your crutches and how to use them properly to support an injured leg. There are different ways to use crutches depending on whether your healthcare provider has said you can or cannot put weight on your affected leg.

Vertebral compression fracture

A vertebral compression fracture (also called a spinal compression fracture) is a break that happens in the bones that make up your spine.

Calf stretch exercises

You can do calf stretches at home after minor injuries that you do not need to see a health provider for. You should see your health provider if you are not getting better within a week of doing these stretches.

Deep vein thrombosis and plaster casts

A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in your leg. The clot blocks normal blood flow through your leg and can cause pain and swelling. Having your leg in a plaster cast slightly increases your risk of a DVT.
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