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Atrophy of hand muscles (flatness of palm) from ulnar nerve compression
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Guyon’s Canal Syndrome

Introduction: The median nerve travels through a soft-tissue tunnel at the base of the hand. Nerve entrapment within the tunnel constitutes the most common upper extremity nerve entrapment, which we all know as carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS). People experiencing neurological symptoms in the hand often immediately suspect CTS as the cause. However, the median nerve is […]

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Synovial sheaths surrounding tendons in the distal extremities
Image is from 3D4Medical’s Complete Anatomy application

Exploring Tendon Disorders

Painful tendon disorders are highly prevalent today and are most often associated with chronic overuse. Numerous other factors can also lead to these conditions. In this installment we’ll take a look at crucial elements of tendon structure, function, and common causes of tendon pain so we can best help our clients.   Tendon Structure and […]

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Leg length discrepancy and SI joint dysfunction. 
Longer leg produces higher pelvis on that side and tilt of pelvis to opposite side.
Image courtesy of Complete Anatomy

Current concepts in sacroiliac joint dysfunction

The sacroiliac (SI) joint is one of the most interesting joints in the body. There actually isn’t a single sacroiliac joint, but rather a left and right SI joint. This joint is the articulation on the posterior side of the pelvis between the sacrum and the ilium. The sacrum is essentially a wedge held in […]

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 The Future of Advanced Massage Credentialing

The massage therapy profession has come leaps and bounds ahead of where it was in its infancy in the 1960s. The field continues to develop and still has some growing pains as it faces contemporary challenges. The profession has diversified as it has matured and realized its true potential. Today, there are a host of […]

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Using Bloom’s Taxonomy to Guide Assessment Questions

In the mid-1950s, Benjamin Bloom and his colleagues devised an organizational system for categorizing levels of learning and cognitive complexity. This system has been used extensively in curriculum development for all grade levels and in higher education. It has also more recently been modified and updated. The updated Bloom’s taxonomy model is precious for organizing […]

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Infrapatellar tendon is often listed as the patellar ligament because of its connection between the patella and tibia
Image is from 3D4Medical’s Complete Anatomy application

Biomechanics of Tendon and Ligament Tissue

Massage therapists focus a great deal of attention on muscles when addressing client’s pain and injury complaints. However, other soft tissues may also play a prominent role in various pain complaints. Tendon and ligament injuries comprise a significant number of musculoskeletal disorders. Understanding structure and function of tendons and ligaments and how they are injured […]

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Image courtesy of Complete Anatomy

Current Concepts in Patellofemoral Pain

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a term that describes generalized anterior knee pain around or under the patella. Overactivity and excessive mechanical load on the patellofemoral joint are the leading causes. There isn’t an apparent tissue dysfunction for the pain, but several factors may contribute to the discomfort felt during movement. Below we discuss key […]

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Posterior components of the motion segment
Image is from 3D4Medical’s Complete Anatomy application

The Motion Segment of the Lumbar Spine

Joint motion is usually described as a movement between two articulating bones. That is an accurate description of joint mechanics at most skeletal joints in the body. Spinal motion however is more complicated, as it involves multiple joints. It also includes many soft-tissues spanning those joints. In this issue we look at the complexities of […]

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Posterior view of the right foot showing lateral deviation of the distal calcaneus in calcaneal valgus
Mediclip image copyright (1998) Williams & Wilkins. All Rights Reserved.

Clinical Relevance of Overpronation

If you’ve ever worked with competitive runners or others with active lifestyles, you’ve likely encountered the term overpronation (also called hyperpronation). Overpronation can be a challenging biomechanical pattern leading to multiple lower extremity disorders. It can also be an incidental finding that exists, but is not causing a person’s current pain complaint. The trick for […]

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The Morton’s test for identifying Morton’s neuroma
Image is from 3D4Medical’s Essential Anatomy application available on the App Store.

Working with Morton’s Neuroma

Foot pain is a common occurrence in our society. Whether it is standing all day on your job, or giving your feet a serious challenge by running long distances on pavement, the feet certainly can take a beating.  Most everyone would agree that it feels great to get your feet massaged, and massage therapy can […]

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