When a patient has a herniated disk, the inner layer of the disk pushes out to the spinal canal, affecting nearby nerves. Patients with a herniated disk can have severe pain that affects movement. MedlinePlus points out that herniated disks...
Neck pain is a common problem and is usually caused by an injury or twisting your neck in an unusual way. Non-radiating neck pain is simply pain that stays in the area of your neck. If you are experiencing neck pain, you may find it difficult to...
The piriformis muscle is a deep gluteal muscle that passes near or above the sciatic nerve. According to the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, piriformis spasm, also known as piriformis syndrome, can irritate the sciatic nerve,...
The femoral nerve is the long nerve in the leg that feeds the leg muscles, allowing you to straighten your leg. This nerve also is responsible for feeling in the lower leg and front of the thigh. The tibial nerve affects the calf and foot, while...
Hemiplegia is a total or partial paralysis in one side of the body, most often caused by a stroke. Researchers believe that hemiplegia can predispose the affected shoulder to new injuries or aggravate pre-existing conditions such as arthritis and...
Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), also known as neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), is routinely used by physical therapists and athletic trainers for muscle rehabilitation. In the 1970s, a Russian scientist claimed to have used EMS to...
Electric muscle stimulation is a process through which low-level electrical currents are used to stimulate muscles, forcing them to contract. According to the Food and Drug Administration, which regulates devices that perform these functions, such...
Each person's tolerance to pain is different and many factors can make pain worse or lessen it. Chronic pain develops from disease or injury, taking a physical and emotional toll on the sufferer. Untreated or improperly treated chronic pain can...
The bladder is a hollow, balloon-shaped organ in the pelvic region that stores urine until it is excreted from the body, according to the National Institutes of Health information site Medline Plus. People with bladder problems can experience...
Transmitting electrical impulses through electrodes affixed to the body is an alternative method of stimulating muscle tissue and inducing bodily movement. The technology is primarily used for rehabilitative applications, such as treatment for...
A neurogenic bladder is an abnormally functioning bladder, either overactive or underactive, caused by damage to the nerves controlling it. This damage may be caused by trauma to the spinal cord or diseases that affect the nervous system....
Physical therapy treats medical issues and health problems that affect your range of motion, your ability to be active and your body to function normally. Physical therapists and their assistants work to increase strength, endurance and...
The meniscus is found in your knee joint between your tibia and femur. It is a tough, rubbery material that provides shock absorption, improves lubrication and increases the stability of the joint. You have both a lateral -- outside -- and...
Bell's palsy is a neurological or nerve disorder that affects the muscles on one side of the face. According to Mayo Clinic, the affected side becomes swollen, feels stiff and droops. Also, the smile is lopsided and the eye will not close. Mayo...
Knee pain is not uncommon if you exercise regularly or participate in sports. The knee is an unusual type of joint because it connects to bones on two sides, making it more prone to injury, particularly with repetitive movements such as bending or...
The cervical spine consists of seven vertebrae, labeled C1-C7, which form the upper part of the spine in the neck. As people age, the discs between the vertebrae that cushion them and help them move more easily, degenerate. Herniated discs, also...
Pulling a muscle in the lower back can be very painful and according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, it is the most common reason for lower back pain. A frequent cause of this type of injury is improper lifting of heavy...
Electrical stimulation, often referred to as E-STIM or TENS, is an important component of muscle treatment that physical therapists may incorporate into a patient's treatment plan. Patients can complete exercises while receiving E-STIM under the...
The pelvic area is the area under the bellybutton and between the hips, and pain in this area that is present for six months or longer is defined as chronic pelvic pain, according to the Mayo Clinic. This can be symptomatic of another ailment, or...
Bone spurs are also known as osteophytes and are smooth, bony outgrowths that can occur on the edges of any joint in the body. They are common in the spine, shoulder and heel. Bone spurs by themselves are not painful, but they can rub or project...
De Quervain's tenosynovitis occurs when the two tendons responsible for thumb extension become inflamed and irritated within the tendon sheath. The swelling causes pain over the thumb side of the wrist and the base of the thumb, especially during...
A weak arm bone or humerus will fracture just below the shoulder joint or humeral neck when you catch yourself from a fall using your outstretched hand. If you are elderly, you are most susceptible to this type of arm injury because you began to...
Knots in a muscle are the result of an injury that causes muscle spasms. If the spasm is not treated, it goes on to form knots in the muscle. As you move around during the day, muscles cycle on and off with different movements. An untreated spasm...
Western health professionals and researchers have experimented with electrical stimulation of muscles since the 1970s, and, as of 2010, continue to do so. Electrical stimulation can build strength and prevent atrophy in injured patients, and keep...
Whether you've been in an accident, had a stroke or just had surgery performed, one follow up visit you will most likely be scheduling is with your physical therapist. Physical therapy focuses on helping improve healing through increasing range of...
A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that serves as a cushion to allow free movement of your joints. When pressure or inflammation affects the fluid-filled bursae around your elbow, the resulting condition is called olecranon bursitis. Inflammation could...
Muscle atrophy, or the wasting away of muscle tissue, can occur for a variety of reasons. Disuse atrophy happens when the muscles are not used, either due to a sedentary lifestyle, aging or a debilitating medical condition, according to Medline...
Numerous conditions can cause upper body muscle pain. According to MayoClinic.com, sore, aching muscles are one of the most common health complaints. Upper body muscle pain is common in sedentary individuals who engage in vigorous physical...
A stroke occurs when an artery carrying blood to the brain has a partial or total blockage. Parts of the brain will not receive enough blood, resulting in damage that causes a person to lose control over the bodily functions handled by that part...
