Overuse Injuries

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Overuse Pathophysiology - Strain Game Begins

Overuse injury: Tissue damage from repetitive submaximal loading, where microtrauma accumulation outpaces repair.

  • Risk Factors:
    • Intrinsic (Host): 📌 "MALES" - Muscle imbalance, Alignment (e.g., genu varum/valgum), Limb length discrepancy, Endurance poor, Strength deficits.
    • Extrinsic (Environment): 📌 "TOES" - Training errors (sudden ↑ intensity/duration), Old/improper equipment, Environment (hard surface), Sport technique poor.
  • Pathophysiological Stages:
    • Microtrauma accumulation.
    • Inflammation (acute response).

      ⭐ Tendinopathy is primarily a degenerative condition ('tendinosis'), not inflammatory, despite common suffix '-itis'.

    • Failed healing (repair capacity overwhelmed).
    • Degeneration (structural tissue changes).
  • Commonly Affected Tissues: Tendons (tendinopathy), bone (stress fractures), bursa (bursitis), fascia (fasciitis). Tendon pathology continuum diagram

Upper Limb Overuse - Arm Agonies

  • Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy/Impingement:
    • Anatomy: 📌 SITS (Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres minor, Subscapularis) muscles; subacromial space.
    • Mechanism: Repetitive overhead activity, compression.
    • Tests: Jobe's (supraspinatus), Neer's, Hawkins-Kennedy, Painful arc (60-120° abduction).

      ⭐ Painful arc syndrome (pain between 60-120° of shoulder abduction) is characteristic of subacromial impingement.

  • Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow):
    • Anatomy: Common extensor origin (esp. ECRB - Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis).
    • Mechanism: Repetitive wrist extension/supination.
    • Tests: Cozen's test (resisted wrist extension), Mill's test.
  • Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer's Elbow):
    • Anatomy: Common flexor origin.
    • Mechanism: Repetitive wrist flexion/pronation.
    • Tests: Golfer's elbow test (resisted wrist flexion & pronation).

Shoulder Rotator Cuff Anatomy

Comparison: Upper Limb Tendinopathies

ConditionSiteKey Test(s)Nerve (if relevant)Sport Example
Rotator Cuff TendinopathySubacromial space, SITS tendonsJobe's, Neer's, Painful ArcSuprascapularSwimming, Throwing
Lateral EpicondylitisLateral epicondyle (Extensor origin)Cozen's, Mill'sRadial (PIN)Tennis (backhand)
Medial EpicondylitisMedial epicondyle (Flexor origin)Golfer's elbow testUlnar (sometimes)Golf, Pitching

Lower Limb Overuse - Leg Loads

  • Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS)
    • Mechanism: Malalignment, overuse (running, jumping).
    • Symptoms: Anterior knee pain, worse with stairs, squatting; "movie-goer's sign".
    • $Q-angle$: ↑ angle linked to PFPS. Normal: Male $14°$, Female $17°$.
  • Achilles Tendinopathy
    • Mechanism: Repetitive microtrauma, overuse.
    • Symptoms: Pain/stiffness at posterior heel/calf, worse with activity.
    • Test: Pain on palpation, Thompson test (for rupture, not tendinopathy typically).
  • Plantar Fasciitis
    • Mechanism: Inflammation of plantar aponeurosis due to overuse, poor footwear.
    • Symptoms: Inferior heel pain, esp. first steps in morning or after rest.
    • Test: Windlass test, tenderness at medial calcaneal tuberosity.
  • Stress Fractures
    • Mechanism: Repetitive submaximal loading (e.g., tibia, metatarsals).
    • Symptoms: Insidious onset, localized bone tenderness, pain with activity.
    • 📌 Mnemonic (Common sites): "Tired Muscles Take Frequent Falls" (Tarsals, Metatarsals, Tibia, Fibula, Femur).

Plantar Fasciitis

ConditionSite of PainAggravating FactorsKey Sign/Test
PFPSAnterior kneeStairs, squatting, sittingMovie-goer's sign
Achilles TendinopathyPosterior heel/calfActivity, push-offPalpable tenderness
Plantar FasciitisInferior heelMorning steps, post-restWindlass test
Stress FractureLocalized boneWeight-bearing activityPoint tenderness

Overuse Dx & Rx - Fix & Prevent

  • Dx Approach:
    • History: Training errors (sudden ↑ load, ↓ rest), insidious onset pain.
    • Exam: LOOK (swelling), FEEL (point tenderness), MOVE (painful arc), Special Tests.
    • Imaging: X-ray (late stress #); USG (tendons, dynamic); MRI (gold standard soft tissue/early stress #).
  • Rx - Fix:
    • 📌 POLICE principle. Activity modification (relative rest).
    • NSAIDs: Short-term; ⚠️ cautious in tendinopathy.
    • Rehab: Pain control → ROM → Strength (esp. eccentric) → Proprioception → Gradual RTS.
  • Prevention:
    • Training: 10% rule (gradual ↑ load).
    • Proper technique, equipment, biomechanics.
    • Adequate warm-up, cool-down, rest.

⭐ Eccentric exercises are the cornerstone of tendinopathy rehabilitation.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Overuse injuries: Repetitive microtrauma exceeding tissue repair.
  • Hallmark: Pain with activity, relieved by rest; night pain indicates severity.
  • Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis): ECRB origin; Golfer's elbow (medial): flexor-pronator mass.
  • Jumper’s knee: Patellar tendinopathy at inferior patellar pole.
  • Stress fractures: Insidious onset point tenderness; initial X-rays often normal.
  • Key management: Activity modification, physiotherapy, gradual return to sport.
  • Chronic cases are tendinopathy (degenerative) more than tendinitis_._

Practice Questions: Overuse Injuries

Test your understanding with these related questions

A 35-year-old tennis player presents with pain on the outer aspect of the elbow that worsens with gripping activities and wrist extension. The pain is localized over the lateral epicondyle. This condition most likely involves:

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Flashcards: Overuse Injuries

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Prepatellar bursitis can be caused by _____ or pressure from excessive kneeling

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

Prepatellar bursitis can be caused by _____ or pressure from excessive kneeling

repeated trauma

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