Anatomy of Gastrocnemius Muscle The gastrocnemius is a large, two-headed muscle in the calf that forms the bulk of its shape. It originates from the femur and inserts into the Achilles tendon, working with the soleus muscle to enable plantar flexion of the foot and assist in knee flexion. It plays a crucial role in…
Introduction Pyogenic Flexor Tenosynovitis (PFT) is a bacterial infection of the flexor tendon sheath in the hand, typically caused by Staphylococcus aureus. It results from penetrating trauma, bites, or hematogenous spread. The condition is characterized by Kanavel’s four cardinal signs: finger flexion at rest, fusiform swelling, tenderness along the tendon sheath, and pain with passive…
Introduction: Bone pain is usually deep, dull, or aching and often persists at rest or night, potentially indicating fractures, infections, or conditions like osteoporosis. In contrast, muscle pain tends to be sore, cramping, or throbbing, often worsening with movement and improving with rest or stretching. Muscle pain is commonly due to strain, overuse, or inflammation,…
The pubic symphysis is a cartilaginous joint located between the left and right pubic bones of the pelvis. It provides stability while allowing slight movement to accommodate activities such as walking and childbirth. The joint is reinforced by strong ligaments and contains a fibrocartilaginous disc that helps absorb shock. Introduction The hip bones’ left and…
Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: What is It? Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (sJIA) is a rare but severe form of juvenile arthritis that affects children. Unlike other types, it involves joint inflammation and systemic symptoms such as high fevers, rash, and inflammation of internal organs. Flare-ups of arthritis, fever, and rash in children characterize systemic juvenile…
Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA), a degenerative joint disease, is characterized by knee pain, stiffness, and swelling. It develops as the cartilage cushioning the knee’s bones decreases, resulting in pain and reduced range of motion. Although there isn’t a cure for osteoarthritis in the knee, regular exercise can help control symptoms, better joint function, as well as…
Introduction The inferior gluteal nerve is also a motor branch of the sacral plexus, coming from the posterior divisions of the L5, S1, and S2 anterior roots. It flows inferiorly and exits the pelvic cavity via the larger sciatic foramen while going inferiorly to the piriformis muscle. The gluteus maximus muscle receives motor innervation from…
The distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) is a synovial pivot joint located between the distal ends of the radius and ulna. It allows for forearm rotation (pronation and supination) by enabling the radius to move around the fixed ulna. Stability is provided by the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC), along with ligaments and muscle support. The DRUJ…
Psoriatic Arthritis: What Is It? Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory condition that combines joint inflammation (arthritis) with skin lesions of psoriasis. It is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues, leading to joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, often in the fingers, toes, and spine. One frequent condition that affects…
The Buteyko breathing technique, also known as the Buteyko method, is a type of alternative or additional physical therapy that suggests using breathing exercises mainly to treat respiratory disorders like asthma. Buteyko claims that hyperventilation, or a persistently elevated respiratory rate, is the cause or aggravating factor of many medical problems, including asthma. The technique…
