The knee joint is the largest joint in the human body, and it is the most complex and most often injured joint. The knee joint is a synovial, single-axis, hinge joint. This means it has a synovial membrane that secretes synovial fluid, lubricating...
The knee is a hinge joint that has two large bones above and below it--the femur and tibia. The knee makes it possible to bend and straighten the lower leg. When the leg bends, it is called flexion and when it straightens out it is called...
1. Children tend to get supracondylar and lateral condyle fractures. As with most upper extremity fractures, distal humerus fractures tend to happen with a fall on an outstretched arm. Typically, the force of the impact is transmitted up the...
Your hamstrings are a hard-working group of muscles. As major muscles involved in locomotion, they are active when you walk, run, cycle, climb stairs or even pick up your kids. They tend to work with your glutes and quadriceps to perform...
One of the most important adjustments that can be made to your bike is saddle height. Due to the fact that there are various methods recommended for setting saddle height, it can be somewhat confusing. Especially considering that these methods all...
The gastrocnemius, the most prominent muscle of the lower leg, gives the calf its curvy shape. On athletes, the gastrocnemius may appear as two bulbous shapes that meet in the middle of the lower leg to form an inverted "V" shape. In tandem with...
The hamstrings are located on the back of the thigh just under the gluteus maximus. There are three muscles that make up the hamstring muscle group: biceps femoris, semimembranous and semitendinous. Taken together, this muscle group assists in...
The calf muscle, or gastrocnemius, is located on the back of your lower leg. It runs across both your knee and ankle joint and has two heads. The medial head originates on the medial, or inner, condyle of your femur. The lateral head originates on...
1. A Lot of Bones to Break It is difficult to lump all the types of fractures around the elbow together in one group. There are fractures of the radial head, olecranon, lateral condyle, medial condyle, medial epicondyle, supracondylar humerus,...
The knee is the largest human joint in terms of its volume and surface area. With many structures making up the knee, there are many possible causes for knee pain. Lateral, or outer, knee pain is the least common pain pattern. Arthritic pain,...
Total knee replcement surgery has evolved into an extremely precise and varied procedure. It has become so specialized, that only certain areas of the knee joint might be replaced without sacrificing normal joint surfaces elsewhere.
The IT band, or ililotibial band, is a long fascia that runs along your outer thigh from just below the top of your thigh down to the lateral condyle of the tibia just below the outer knee. It works with your hip and other leg muscles to stabilize...
Obtaining a proper bike fit is vital for injury prevention, comfort and optimal performance. An improperly fit bike is the leading cause of overuse injuries in cyclists. The following steps are designed as guidelines to assist in setting up your...
Patellofemoral knee pain is most common in female rowers. This is because a woman's body shape makes them more likely to develop patellar tracking problems. Patellofemoral knee pain is pain behind the knee, usually after sitting with your knees...
Lateral knee pain after running has been described as illiotibial band friction syndrome. According to the text "Illustrated Orthopedic Physical Assessment," illiotibial band friction syndrome is caused by overuse and can be the result of friction...
As people age, bone, cartilage and tissue in their knees can wear away, causing pain and discomfort. Damage can also be caused by arthritis, degenerative bone disease and other chronic bone disorders that affect the joints and their surrounding...
The dumbbell curl is an isolation weight-training exercise, meaning it requires movement only around one joint. Lifters use the exercise to develop strength and size in the upper-body muscles. Use an appropriately weighted dumbbell while...
The elbow is a hinge joint and a ball and socket joint that allows for both bending and rotation. The three bones of the arm come together at the elbow joint. The bones are connected with ligaments to keep the bones connected together and aligned...
Most joggers with knee pain have common conditions. Usually modifications to a training program will allow one to keep jogging. To be determine and correct the cause of the knee pain, it is important to describe it. Presence or absence of...
Unexplained weight loss is not uncommon. Many diseases and conditions cause unexplained weight loss. Unintentional weight loss can occur in specific areas or in all areas of the body. Certain conditions cause fat loss just around the knees. These...
To perform a lunge, you step forward from a standing position with one leg, bending both knees so that the trailing knee lines up under your hip, and then push back to return to the starting position. Lunges work many muscles of the hips and...
An occlusal splint, also known as a bite guard, is a removable dental device. It is commonly used to treat temporomandibular disorders, which are characterized by problems with the mechanisms of your jaw. These problems can cause pain and problems...
There are numerous causes of painful jaw joints. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, the jaw joints, also known as the temporomandibular joints, are located just in front of the ear and...
For people who suffer from chronic, disabling arthritis of the knee, joint replacement has become a most fulfilling surgical option to regain and restore quality of life. Knee replacement surgery can improve mobility and reduce chronic pain....
The lateral condyle is the bone that sticks out on the side of your elbow. Tendons attach to this area and run down to the forearm muscles. Tennis elbow is an overuse injury that causes these tendons to become inflamed and irritated. Known...
Knee pain while cycling primarily occurs when the knees have been over used. Cycling is considered to be a form of low-impact activity because it does not require an individual to make impact with the ground, however the repetitiveness of the...
A femoral bone contusion is a deep bruise, or hematoma, of the thighbone. Contusions of the femur can occur from extreme blunt trauma to the thigh or from the femur jamming the tibia at the knee joint, which might happen if you landed awkwardly...
Arthritis of the knee is a condition that affects millions of people every year. While causes are many, the end results are the same: painful, stiff knee joints with difficult mobility and significant activity restriction. Many different...
The knee is a simple hinge-type joint that is responsible for bending and extending the lower leg. This joint allows us to carry out everyday functions such as walking and running, in addition to high-level activities such as kicking, jumping and...
