abdominal strain injury aka

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    Abdominal Strain Injury AKA: Stomach Strain

    Explained

    Abdominal pain may be due to a Stomach muscle strain sustained during sport.

    Alternatively it is not uncommon to sustain an Abdominal strain during stomachexercises. A muscle strain refers to a tear within the muscle. Usually the muscle is

    forcibly stretched beyond its limits and the muscle tissue becomes torn. Depending

    upon its severity it is classified as a first, second or third degree strain:

    a first degree strain is damage to a few muscle fibres

    a second degree strain is damage to a more extensive number of muscle fibres

    a third degree strain is a complete rupture of the muscle itself

    The immediate treatment of any muscle injury consists of rest, ice and compression(never apply ice directly to the skin). The rest period is usually between 2 and 4 weeks,

    although depending on the severity of the strain it can require up to 3 months ofrehabilitation.

    Common Abdominal Strain signs & symptoms:

    Abdominal pain when attempting a sit up. Abdominal pain when bending back and stretching the abdominal muscles.

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    Abdominal Strain Signs & Symptoms

    With a grade one Abdominal muscle strain the signs of injury may not be present untilafter the activity is over. There may be a sensation of cramp or tightness and a slight

    feeling of pain when the muscles are stretched or contracted.

    With a grade two Abdominal muscle strain there is immediate pain which is more severe

    than the pain of a grade one injury. It is confirmed by pain on stretch and contraction ofthe muscle. A grade two Abdominal strain is usually sore to touch.

    With a grade three Abdominal strain there is an immediate burning or stabbing pain and

    the athlete is unable to move without pain. The muscle is completely torn and there may

    be a bulge of soft tissue through the muscle layer - this is known as a hernia. In the case

    of grade two and three injuries, a bruise may appear after a few days below the injury,caused by bleeding within the tissues.

    Abdominal Strain Treatment

    What you can do

    The immediate treatment for any muscle injury consists of rest, ice and compression. Ice

    packscan be applied for periods of twenty minutes every couple of hours (never applyice directly to the skin as it can cause an ice burn). Theice packs relieve pain and reducebleeding in the damaged tissue.

    Resting may be the common sense approach, but it is one that is often ignored by

    competitive athletes. This is unwise, since it does not take much to turn a grade one strain

    into a grade two, or a grade two strain into a grade three. As a general rule, grade oneinjuries should be rested from sporting activity for about 3 weeks and grade two injuries

    for about 4 to 6 weeks. In the case of a complete rupture, the muscle may have to be

    repaired surgically and the rehabilitation afterwards will take about 3 months.

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    What you can do

    Abdominal Strain Prevention

    What you can do

    The following measures may have the effect of reducing the chances of sustaining a

    muscle strain:

    Warm upprior to matches and training is thought to decrease muscle stretchinjuries because the muscle is more extensible when the tissue temperature has

    been increased by one or two degrees. A good warm up should last at least 20minutes - starting gently and finishing at full pace activity. Practising sportspecific activities helps tune coordination and prepare mentally for competition.

    Recovery after training sessions and matches can be enhanced by performing a

    cool down. Ideally the cool down session should take place the day after the

    activity. This is thought to help muscles get rid of waste products. This is also theideal time to do stretching exercises.

    Maintaining good muscle strength and flexibility may help prevent muscle strains.

    Muscle strength allows a player to carry out match activities in a controlled

    manner and decreases the uncoordinated movements which can lead to injury.Core strength exercisesusing a Swiss Ball are ideal. Tight muscles are

    associated with strains and stretching on a mat should also be practised tomaintain muscle length and prevent injury.

    Core Strengthening Programme

    What is the Core Strengthening Programme?

    The Core Strengthening Programme is an exercise programme that aims to improve

    stabilisation and support to the spine. This is achieved by re-training specific trunkmuscles, which may be under used.

    Once these stabilising muscles have been re-trained the muscles of the arms and legs will

    have a more stable base to work from. This allows you to carry out arm and legmovements with more control and is thought to improve the quality of your movement.

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    How will it help during sport?

    It will provide more support for your back and may reduce the risk of back

    injuries.

    It will provide a more stable base for arm and leg movements, improving the

    control and quality of your movements. It will improve your muscular co-ordination during movement.

    As the stabilising muscles gain more endurance you will be able to perform

    movements without your technique deteriorating excessively, due to fatigue.

    Your ability to hold off opponents in contact sports should improve.

    Programme Overview

    The programme is broken down into stages and must be completed step by step. You

    should not progress to the next stage until you have mastered the exercises of the

    previous stage.

    The stages are:

    Stage 1

    Learn to contract the deep muscles which stabilise the spine. At first this takes

    quite a bit of concentration. Each individual will master this at their own pace.

    There is no set time, but perseverance is the key.

    There are two main deep stabilising muscles that support your lower back: the Multifidus

    muscle and the Transversus abdominis muscle.

    In order to

    practice getting Transversus and Multifidus muscles to contract, it is easiest to get on allfours. Without moving your back, or pelvis, draw your stomach up gently - try to bringyour belly button up towards your back. This is a very subtle movement so it is best to

    get your technique checked by a physiotherapist .

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    Important notes:

    This movement should not be confused with breathing in - it is important to

    breathe normally while activating the stabilising muscles.

    Do not use the muscles at the front of the stomach - using your 'six pack' is not the

    correct technique.

    Stage 2

    Increase the endurance capacity of the deep stabilising muscles of the spine, bypracticing to contract them in different situations for as long as you can. This will

    become easier with practice.

    Practicing to Activate the Deep Stabilisers and Improve their Endurance

    Using the same techniques described inStage 1, you should eventually aim to hold thecontraction for as long as is possible. You will find that once you have activated the

    muscles to this level it will become second nature to you.

    To progress from Stage 1, simply increase the duration of the contraction to ten seconds,

    then twenty, while continuing to practice in sets of ten. Then progress the contraction toas long as possible, aiming for five minutes, then longer.

    At this point, progress to contracting the deep stabilisers in different positions such as

    sitting and standing. Practice while you are doing everyday activities, such as sitting at

    the computer, watching TV or on an exercise bike.

    Once you have mastered this you will be ready to progress to stage 3.

    Stage 3

    Begin arm and leg movements whilst contracting the deep stabilising muscles of

    the spine.

    The whole point of the Core Strenthening Programme is to increase the support for your

    back and trunk in order to provide a more stable base for arm and leg movement. The

    best position to start these exercises is on all fours.

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    Commence by contracting the deep stabilisers (as described in Stage 1) and hold thiscontraction. Then raise your right arm straight out to the horizontal. Perform the

    movement slowly and in a controlled fashion - there should be no wobbling or unwanted

    movement of the trunk. Hold the arm up for four seconds and then slowly lower.

    Repeat for the left arm.

    Next, whilst maintaining the same position, contract the deep stabilisers and then slowly

    lift your right leg up straight to the horizontal. Hold it there for four seconds and thenslowly lower. The movement should be controlled and there should not be unwanted

    movement of the trunk or pelvis.

    Repeat for the left leg.

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    Once you have mastered these exercises, whilst maintaining a contraction of the deep

    stabiliser muscles, you can start doing the core strengthening gym exercises.

    Stage 4Progress to the core strengthening exercises, while contracting the deep stabilising

    muscles.

    What You'll Need

    Essential kit that you'll need for these exercises are:

    A Swiss Ball

    An Exercise Mat

    A Medicine Ball

    Progression of the Core Strengthening Exercises

    The core strengthening exercises featured in this guide are suitable for most levels offitness, but for best results it is always beneficial to do them under the supervision of a

    chartered physiotherapist. The physiotherapist will be able to monitor your technique and

    suggest appropriate modifications where necessary.

    As a rough guide to the progression of the programme, the timescales below may behelpful. However, for exact sets, repetitions and their progression it is best to consult a

    healthcare professional or certified conditioning coach.

    Beginner

    It's best to aim to do two different circuits (trunk, arm, leg, back and gluteal) per week,with three days between each circuit. Rotate through all the different circuits to makesure all areas of the body are worked over the course of a few weeks. If you are

    unaccustomed to this type of exercise then you can expect some general muscle soreness

    for a couple of days after exercise when you are starting out.

    As an example,the following progression may be appropriate to do every Monday andThursday:

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    WeekCircuit

    SetsExercise Repititions

    1 1 4

    2 1 4

    3 1 6

    4 1 8

    5 1 10

    6 2 6

    7 2 6

    Intermediate

    After becoming familiar with the exercises, the feeling of muscle soreness after exercise

    should go away. Usually, it is then possible to do the exercises every other day by

    rotating the circuits to work on different areas of the body.

    For example, this progression may be appropriate to do Monday, Wednesday, Friday:

    WeekCircuit

    SetsExercise Repititions

    8 2 6

    9 2 6

    10 2 8

    11 2 8

    12 3 6

    13 2 10

    14 3 8

    Advanced

    By doing the exercises regularly over a period of months, it is possible to do more work

    with less rest time. However, remember to rotate the circuits to make sure all areas of the

    body are worked.

    For example, it may be possible to do these exercises five days of the week:

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    WeekCircuit

    SetsExercise Repititions

    15 3 8

    16 3 8

    17 3 10

    18 3 10

    19 4 8

    20 4 10

    21 5 8

    Shoulder, Trunk and Adductor Exercise

    Position your shins on the top of the Swiss Ball with your hands on the floor. Slowly roll

    the ball round to your right, then over to the left.

    Hamstring Exercises

    Lie on your back with your heels on top of theSwiss Ball. Dig your heels into the ball

    and lift your pelvis up. Hold for 4 seconds.

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    Hip Flexor, Hamstring and Gluteal Exercise

    Lie on your back with your heels on the Swiss Ball. Arms across chest. Lift up your

    pelvis and hold. Lift up alternate legs and hold for 4 seconds.

    Hamstring and Gluteal Exercise

    With your knees and ankles 15cm apart, balance with your back on the Swiss Ball. Your

    knees should be at 90 degrees. Tighten your bottom and push your pelvis up. Raise your

    alternate legs to horizontal and hold for 4 seconds.

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    Sit Ups

    Sit with the small of your back on the Swiss Ball and with a medicine ball between your

    knees. Fold your arms across your chest and slowly sit up.

    Trunk and Gluteal Exercise

    Balance with your back on the Swiss Ball, your pelvis pushed up and your knees at 90degrees. Hold the medicine ball out with your arms straight above you. Keep your pelvis

    pushed up and rotate the medicine ball slowly to the left then to the right. Keep your arms

    straight.

    Trunk Exercise

    Sit on the Swiss Ball and balance with your feet off the ground. How long can youbalance before touching the ground?

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    Exercises for Strengthening the Arm Muscles

    Press Ups

    Balance your knees on theSwiss Ball and hands on the floor. Slowly lower your chest tothe floor then raise up.

    Pelvic Lifts

    Sit on the floor with your hands behind your shoulders and your heels on top of the Swiss

    Ball. Lift your pelvis up and hold for 6 seconds.

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    Shoulder, Trunk and Adductor Exercise

    Position your shins on the top of the Swiss Ball with your hands on the floor. Slowly roll

    the ball round to your right, then over to the left.

    Arm, Trunk and Abductor Exercise

    Lay on your side on an exercise mat. Keep your legs and trunk straight. Push up on your

    forearm and hold. Steady yourself and raise your top leg up and hold for 4 seconds.

    Trunk and Pelvis Exercise

    Keep your body and legs straight. Push up on your forearm. Hold for 6 seconds. Rollover and work other side.

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    Exercises for Strengthening the Leg Muscles

    Lunges

    Standing feet 20cm apart. Lunge forward, alternate left and right.

    Abductor ExerciseLie on an exercise mat and k eep your toes pointing to the floor. Raise your top' leg and

    hold for 2 seconds. After each set roll over and do the other leg.

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    Adductor Exercise

    Raise your bottom' leg and hold up for 2 seconds. After each set roll over and do theother leg.

    Quadriceps ExerciseRest your back against theSwiss Ballwith your knees bent. Push back and straighten your

    knees.

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    Hamstring Exercises

    Lie on your back with your heels on top of theSwiss Ball. Dig your heels into the ball

    and lift your pelvis up. Hold for 4 seconds.

    Hip Flexor, Hamstring and Gluteal Exercise

    Lie on your back with your heels on the Swiss Ball. Arms across chest. Lift up your

    pelvis and hold. Lift up alternate legs and hold for 4 seconds.

    Hamstring and Gluteal Exercise

    With your knees and ankles 15cm apart, balance with your back on the Swiss Ball. Yourknees should be at 90 degrees. Tighten your bottom and push your pelvis up. Raise your

    alternate legs to horizontal and hold for 4 seconds.

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    Trunk and Pelvis Exercise

    Lay on your side on an exercise mat. Keep your body and legs straight. Push up on your

    forearm. Hold for 6 seconds. Roll over and work the other side.

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    Back Extensor Exercise

    Slowly lift you head and shoulders up off the floor. Hold for 6 seconds.

    Back Extensor and Gluteal ExerciseKeep your knee straight and slowly lift your leg up. Hold for 6 seconds then relax. Repeat

    with opposite leg.

    Back Extensor and Gluteal Exercise

    Slowly lift your opposite arm and leg. Hold for 6 seconds. Repeat on other side.

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    Arm, Trunk and Abductor Exercise

    Keep your legs and trunk straight. Push up on your forearm and hold. Steady yourself and

    raise your top leg up and hold for 4 seconds.

    Press Ups

    Balance your knees on theSwiss Ball and hands on the floor. Slowly lower your chest to

    the floor then raise up.

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    Pelvic Lifts

    Sit on the floor with your hands behind your shoulders and your heels on top of the Swiss

    Balll. Lift your pelvis up and hold for 6 seconds.

    Exercises for Strengthening the Back Muscles

    Trunk and Pelvis Exercise

    Lay on your side on an exercise mat. Keep your body and legs straight. Push up on your

    forearm. Hold for 6 seconds. Roll over and work the other side.

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    Back Extensor Exercise

    Slowly lift you head and shoulders up off the floor. Hold for 6 seconds.

    Back Extensor and Gluteal ExerciseKeep your knee straight and slowly lift your leg up. Hold for 6 seconds then relax. Repeat

    with opposite leg.

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    Back Extensor and Gluteal Exercise

    Slowly lift your opposite arm and leg. Hold for 6 seconds. Repeat on other side.

    Arm, Trunk and Abductor ExerciseKeep your legs and trunk straight. Push up on your forearm and hold. Steady yourself and

    raise your top leg up and hold for 4 seconds.

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    Press Ups

    Balance your knees on theSwiss Ball and hands on the floor. Slowly lower your chest to

    the floor then raise up.

    Pelvic LiftsSit on the floor with your hands behind your shoulders and your heels on top of the Swiss

    Balll. Lift your pelvis up and hold for 6 seconds.

    Exercises for Strengthening the Gluteal (Buttocks)Muscles

    Trunk and Pelvis Exercise

    Lay on your side on an exercise mat. Keep your body and legs straight. Push up on yourforearm. Hold for 6 seconds. Roll over and work the other side.

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    Back Extensor Exercise

    Slowly lift you head and shoulders up off the floor. Hold for 6 seconds.

    Back Extensor and Gluteal ExerciseKeep your knee straight and slowly lift your leg up. Hold for 6 seconds then relax. Repeat

    with the opposite leg.

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    Back Extensor and Gluteal Exercise

    Slowly lift your opposite arm and leg. Hold for 6 seconds. Repeat on the other side.

    Arm, Trunk and Abductor ExerciseKeep your legs and trunk straight. Push up on your forearm and hold. Steady yourself and

    raise your top leg up and hold for 4 seconds.

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    Groin Strain Injury

    A Groin Strain is one of the most common injuries in sports, especially football. The term

    describes a strain of the Adductor muscles that are located on the inside of the thigh. The

    injury usually occurs when the muscle is forcibly stretched beyond its limits and themuscle tissue tears. A tear in a muscle is referred to as a strain and, depending on its

    severity, is classified as a first, second or third degree strain.

    The immediate treatment for any muscle injury consists of the RICE protocol - rest, ice,

    compression and elevation (never apply ice directly to the skin). As a general rule, gradeone Groin Strains should be rested from sporting activity for about 3 weeks, and grade

    two injuries for about 4 to 6 weeks. In the case of a complete rupture, the muscle mayhave to be repaired surgically and the rehabilitation afterwards will take at least 3months.

    Common Groin Strain signs & symptoms:

    A sensation of pain, tightness or cramp in the inner thigh.

    Groin pain when turning and kicking a football.

    Sharp pain when walking in severe cases.

    Groin Strain Injury ExplainedA Groin Strain is one of the most common injuries in sports, especially football. The term

    describes a strain of the Adductor muscles that are located on the inside of the thigh. The

    Adductor muscle group is made up of five muscles:

    Adductor Brevis

    Adductor Longus

    Adductor Magnus

    Gracilis Pectineus

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    The injury usually occurs when the muscle is forcibly stretched beyond its limits and themuscle tissue tears. A tear in a muscle is referred to as a strain and, depending on its

    severity, is classified as a first, second or third degree strain:

    a first degree strain is damage to a few muscle fibres

    a second degree strain is damage to a more extensive number of muscle fibres

    a third degree strain is a complete rupture of the muscle itself

    Groin Strain Signs & Symptoms

    In the case of a grade one Groin Strain the signs may not be present until after the activityis over. There may be a sensation of cramp or tightness and a slight feeling of pain when

    the muscles are stretched or contracted.

    A grade two Groin Strain causes immediate pain which is more severe than the pain of a

    grade one injury and produces pain on walking. It is confirmed by pain on stretch andcontraction of the muscle. A grade two Groin Strain is usually sore to touch.

    A grade three strain is quite rare in the adductor muscles. There is an immediate burning

    or stabbing pain and the athlete is unable to walk without pain. In the case of grade two

    and three injuries, a large bruise will appear below the injury site after a few days - this is

    caused by bleeding within the tissues.

    Groin Strain Treatment

    What you can do

    The immediate treatment for any muscle injury consists of rest, ice, and compression. Ice

    packscan be applied for periods of twenty minutes every couple of hours (never apply

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    ice directly to the skin as it can cause an ice burn). Theice packs relieve pain and reduce

    bleeding in the damaged tissue. This can help to reduce the injury rehab time.

    Resting may be the common sense approach, but it is one that is often ignored bycompetitive athletes. This is unwise, since it does not take much to turn a grade one strain

    into a grade two, or a grade two strain into a grade three. As a general rule, grade oneGroin Strains should be rested from sporting activity for about 3 weeks, and grade two

    injuries for about 4 to 6 weeks.

    In the case of a complete rupture an opinion from an orthopaedic doctor is required. The

    torn muscle may have to be repaired surgically and the rehabilitation afterwards will take

    about 3 months.

    Groin Strain Prevention

    What you can do

    The following measures may have the effect of reducing the chances of sustaining amuscle strain:

    Warm up prior to matches and training is thought to decrease muscle stretch

    injuries because the muscle is more extensible when the tissue temperature hasbeen increased by one or two degrees. Warm pants (compression shorts) are

    extremely effective at maintaining muscle temperature, even in cold conditions.

    They provide warmth and support and are extremely effective at preventing

    muscle injuries.A good warm up should last at least 20 minutes - starting gently and finishing at

    full pace activity. Practicing sport specific activities helps tune coordination andprepare mentally for competition.

    Professional Warm Up Guide

    Recovery after training sessions and matches can be enhanced by performing a

    cool down. Ideally the cool down session should take place the day after theactivity. This is thought to help muscles get rid of waste products. This is also the

    ideal time to do stretching exercises.

    Professional Cool Down Guide

    Maintaining good muscle strength and flexibility may help prevent muscle strains.Muscle strength allows a player to carry out match activities in a controlled

    manner and decreases the uncoordinated movements which can lead to injury.

    Core strength exercises using a Swiss Ballare ideal. Tight muscles are associatedwith strains and stretching on a mat should also be practiced to maintain muscle

    length and prevent injury.

    Guide to Core Strengthening Exercises

    Diet can have an effect on muscle injuries. If a player's diet is high in

    carbohydrate in the 48 hours before a match there will be an adequate supply of

    the energy that is necessary for muscle contractions. However, if the muscles

    become short of fuel, fatigue can set in during training or matches. This fatigue

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    can predispose a player to injury. Carbohydrate and fluids can be replenished

    during training and matches by taking anenergy drink or energy gel periodically

    during activity.

    IlioPsoas Syndrome Injury

    Pain at the front of the hip may be due to a Hip Flexor muscle strain. The IlioPsoas

    muscle is most commonly affected. The IlioPsoas muscle is comprised of the Iliacus and

    Psoas muscles. The IlioPsoas sits deep down, in front of the hip joint, its main job being

    to flex the hip (bringing the leg out in front of the body) as when kicking a ball.

    The IlioPsoas attaches to the thigh bone via the IlioPsoas tendon. In between this tendon

    and the hip joint lies the IlioPsoas Bursa (a small sac of fluid). IlioPsoas Syndrome is thename given to a condition in which the tendon and/or the bursa become inflamed andirritated.

    A person suffering from IlioPsoas syndrome may have pain in the hip and thigh region,

    as well as hip stiffness and in some cases a clicking or snapping hip. Treatment aims to

    settle the condition down and then improve the strength and flexibility of the hip muscles,involving 6 weeks of rehabilitation, before a gradual return to full activity.

    Common IlioPsoas Syndrome signs & symptoms:

    Pain when lifting the knee up. Pain when attempting to kick.

    Pain during hip flexor stretch.

    IlioPsoas Syndrome Injury Explained

    Pain at the front of the hip may be due to a Hip Flexor muscle strain. The IlioPsoas

    muscle is most commonly affected. The IlioPsoas muscle is comprised of the Iliacus and

    Psoas muscles.

    The IlioPsoas muscle lies in front of the hip joint and sits quite deeply, below the surfaceof the skin. Its main job is to flex the hip (bringing the leg out in front of the body) as

    when kicking a ball. The IlioPsoas attaches to the thigh bone via the IlioPsoas tendon (a

    tendon is a structure which attaches muscle to bone).

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    In between the tendon and the hip joint lies the IlioPsoas bursa (a small sac of fluid).

    Bursae are present wherever moving parts occur, and help to reduce friction. They are

    normally found around joints and where tendons, muscles or ligaments pass over bony

    prominences.

    IlioPsoas Syndrome is the name given to a condition in which a person has IlioPsoas

    bursitis (irritation and inflammation of the IlioPsoas bursa) and/or IlioPsoas Tendonitis

    (irritation and inflammation of the IlioPsoas tendon). The condition occurs primarily in

    gymnasts, dancers and track athletes and is caused by repetitive hip flexion.

    IlioPsoas Syndrome Signs & Symptoms

    A person suffering from IlioPsoas syndrome may have pain in the hip and thigh region,

    as well as hip stiffness and in some cases a clicking or snapping hip. The physiotherapistshould be able to diagnose the condition through manual tests, but it can be confirmed by

    an ultrasound or MRI scan.

    IlioPsoas Syndrome Treatment

    What you can do

    The initial aim in the treatment of IlioPsoas syndrome is to allow the condition to settle

    down and pain to decrease through rest, electrotherapy and anti-inflammatorymedications. Ice packs can be applied for periods of twenty minutes every couple of

    hours (never apply ice directly to the skin as it can cause an ice burn). Theice packs

    relieve pain and reduce bleeding in the damaged tissue. This can significantly reduce thetotal rehab time.

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    Once the acute pain has settled down, a 6 week programme of flexibility and

    strengthening exercises for muscles around the hip can begin, followed by a gradual

    return to full activity. Resistance bands are ideal for strengthening the muscles around thehip.

    As with all overuse injuries, IlioPsoas syndrome can be caused by doing too much, toosoon. When beginning or stepping up any exercise, gradual progress must be made. For

    example, it is impossible to increase from running 2 miles per day one week to running10 miles per day the next week, without the body being put at risk of various problems.

    As well as progressing gradually, your body has to be prepared for increased physical

    demands. Core strength exercises to help improve the stability of the trunk and pelvis are

    an important component of the rehab programme, as well as the prevention of overuseproblems in the pelvis and groin. The Stabiliser Pressure BioFeedbackdevice is an

    excellent tool to help ensure that your Core Stability exercise technique is correct. More

    advance mat based and Swiss Ball exercises can help to develop Core Strength for sports.

    Guide to Core Strengthening Exercises

    IlioPsoas Syndrome Prevention

    What you can do

    Warm up prior to sporting activity is thought to decrease muscle and tendon injuries

    because the tissues are more extensible when the tissue temperature has been increased

    by one or two degrees. Warm pants (Compression Shorts)are extremely good atmaintaining muscle temperature in the groin and pelvic region, even in cold conditions.

    They provide warmth and support and are very effective at preventing muscle injuries.

    A good warm up should last at least 20 minutes - starting gently and finishing at full pace

    activity. Practicing sport specific activities helps tune coordination and prepare mentallyfor competition.

    Professional Warm Up Guide

    Maintaining good muscle strength and flexibility may help prevent overuse injuries. Core

    strength exercises using a Swiss Ball are ideal. Tight muscles are associated with injuryand stretching on a mat should also be practiced to maintain muscle length and prevent

    injury.

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