Head (Front)
Temporalis Dysfunction
How does it feel?
- Pain above or behind the ear, which may radiate to the eyebrow area and cheek
- Teeth may become sensitive to hot or cold temperatures
- Clenching the jaw or grinding the teeth may increase symptoms
Can we help?
Yes!
Migraine
How does it feel?
- Pain on one side or both sides of the head
- The pain usually throbs or pulsates
- May be provoked by light, sounds, smells and certain foods
- Individuals may experience dizziness, nausea, blurred vision
Can we help?
Yes. However, this condition is usually co-managed with your family physician.
Temporal Arteritis
How does it feel?
- A throbbing headache around the temple area may occur
- Permeant or temporary loss of vision in one eye
- A fever like state and tenderness in the scalp may occur
Can we help?
No. you must go to urgent care. This condition could lead to stroke or death.
Jaw
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (aka TMJ)
- How does it feel?
- pain in jaw joint area when you chew, speak or open mouth
- jaw joint locks while mouth open or closed
- clicking or popping in jaw joint (with or without pain)
- swelling on side of your face
- may also have headache, neck pain and shoulder pain
Can We Help?
Yes!
Myofascial Pain Syndrome
How does it feel?
- jaw muscles feel very tight
- pain or tenderness in jaw muscles
- find yourself grinding your teeth
- no issues with the TMJ usually
- associated headaches are common
Can we help?
Yes!
Sinus Headache
How does it feel?
- deep pain or pressure in your forehead, cheekbones or upper nose
- symptoms will usually be present around the sinuses of your face (see image)
- may also have runny nose, fever and swelling in your face
- can be confused with tension headaches or migraines
Can we help?
Yes! However, this condition is usually co-managed by your family physician as you could be suffering from a sinus infection.
Neck
Sternocleidomastoid Dysfunction
How does it feel?
- pain or stiffness in the muscle with moving your neck around
- finding knots or feeling tenderness when squeezing the muscle gently
- sensation that your head is being pulled forward
- referred pain behind the eye, upper chest, back or top of the head (when squeezing sternal division trigger points)
- referred pain in the forehead or behind the ear (when squeezing clavicular division trigger points)
Can we help?
Yes!
Scalene Dysfunction
How does it feel?
- lower neck may feel stiff with movement
- referred pain into the upper chest, upper back and back or side of the arm (when pressing on the muscles and holding)
- numbness and/or tingling down the arm into your hands and fingers (mimics a disc herniation of the neck)
- often involved with other conditions: Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Wryneck Syndrome (Torticollis) and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Can we help?
Yes!
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
How does it feel?
- weakened grip in your hand (neurological TOS)
- numbness and/or tingling down your arm and into the hands (neurological or vascular TOS)
- pain or soreness in your neck, shoulder or hand (neurological or vascular TOS)
- weak or no pulse in the arm you are experiencing symptoms (vascular TOS)
- bluish color in your hand and cold fingers, hands or arms (vascular TOS)
Can we help?
Yes! However, depending on the root cause, may need to be co-managed with an Orthopedic surgeon.
Wry Neck (Torticollis)
How does it feel?
- you feel as if you can’t turn your and it seems to be stuck in one spot
- neck in general feels very stiff and painful with movement
- one shoulder may appear to be higher than the other
- your neck may be twitching on the side it’s stuck (head may shake as well)
- may have an associated headache
Can we help?
Yes!
Chest
Pec minor dysfunction
How does it feel?
- Burning or stabbing like feeling in the upper chest area.
- Difficulty reaching forward and up
- Pain when reaching back with the arm
- Numbness or pain down into the pinky or ring finger
Can we help?
Yes
Pec Major dysfunction
How does it feel?
- Burning or stabbing pain in the mid-chest area
- Difficulty moving the arm across and away from the chest
- Loss of strength and difficulty preforming push movements
- Depending on the severity pain may radiate into upper arm or neck
Can we help?
Yes. However, depending on the severity of the strain you may need surgery
Internal Costal dysfunction
How does it feel?
- Soreness and tenderness along the ribcage
- Local pain when taking deep breaths, coughing and sneezing
- Possible bruising
- Pain with twisting movements
Can we help?
Yes
Rib fracture
How does it feel?
- Throbbing pain may be felt in the ribs
- Severe pain felt with deep breaths, coughing and sneezing
- Rotation of the body will be severely limited
Can we help?
No. Fractures usually take 6-8 weeks to heal. Depending the severity, you may need surgery
Sternum fracture
How does it feel?
- Severe swelling in the middle of the chest
- Pain, tenderness and bruising in the middle of the chest
- Complications with your heart
- Severe pain with coughing, sneezing and breathing
Can we help?
No. Go to the emergency room or urgent care
Serratus anterior dysfunction
How does it feel?
- Pain on the side of chest, toward the upper rib cage
- Pain with rolling the shoulders back
- Reduced ability to reach behind the body
- The pain may refer down to pinky and ring finger
Can we help?
Yes
Sterno-clavicular joint dysfunction
How does it feel?
- Pain where the collar bone meets the sternum.
- There will be tenderness upon touch or when you try to expand your chest
- There maybe a visible bump at the base of the neck
- Pain may radiate into the shoulder
Can we help?
Yes. However, if you dislocate the sterno-clavicular joint you should go the emergency room
Shoulders
Deltoid dysfunction (Anterior, Middle, lateral)
How does it feel?
- Deep ache or tenderness which is felt over the shoulder joint
- If the injury is recent the pain will be sharp, chronic issue will be stiff and achy
- Pain is worse when the arm is lifted forward (flexion) or sideways (abduction)
- Pain begins right when the arm is lifted
Can we help?
Yes
Rotator cuff dysfunction
How does it feel?
- Pain with over head activities or when the arm is raised to the side about 90 degrees (abduction)
- Pain when reaching behind the back
- The shoulder joint may click when the arm is abducted
- When the rotator cuff is irritated, pain will be sharp
- Shoulder may also feel Stiff and achy
Can we help?
Yes. However, if there is a complete tear of the rotator cuff you will need surgery
Acromioclavicular joint Dysfunction
How does it feel?
- Pain at the top of the shoulder, especially when the arm is raised past 90 degrees
- There may be bruising or swelling
- Affected shoulder may appear to hang lower than the other one, depending on the severity of injury
- Pain is worse with over head movements
Can we help?
Yes. However, if the AC joint is completely separated you may need to under go surgery.
Bursitis
How does it feel?
- Pain is worse when you are laying on your shoulder
- There Is no pain when the arm is not moving
- Any shoulder movement causes pain
- Shoulder pain will worsen over weeks
- Pain may refer down to the elbow
Can we help?
Yes. However, rest is very crucial during this time period
Labral dysfunction
How does it feel?
- Shoulder joint will feel week and instable
- Very hard to pin point where the pain is
- Pain will present with random movements
- Raising your arm and reaching back will make shoulder joint feel instable
- Clicking or popping in the shoulder joint
Can we help?
Yes. However, in severe cases surgery may be required
Coracoclavicular joint dysfunction
How does it feel?
- Pain at the tip of the shoulder joint
- Pain is provoked by overhead movements
- Visible bump maybe noticed at the top of the shoulder, which may indicate that the clavicle bone has been shifted up
Can we help?
Yes
Upper Arms (Front)
Biceps dysfunction
How does it feel?
- A sharp pain in the belly of the muscle or at the shoulder/elbow
- Muscle weakness, decrease ability to flex the muscle
- Possible bruising, depending on the severity of the injury
Can we help?
Yes. However, a complete tear of the biceps may require surgical intervention
Coracobrachialis dysfunction
How does it feel?
- Pain present in the upper middle part of the arm
- Flexing the arm while externally rotating the hand will cause tenderness and pain
Can we help?
Yes
Bicep Tendon Rupture
How does it feel?
- Sudden sharp pain in the upper arm
- There may be a loud pop sound when injury occurs
- Bruising of the entire upper arm
- Inability to flex the bicep
- If there is a complete tear of the muscle you may notice a Popeye sign. This is when the bicep muscle retracts into the upper arm creating a prominent bump
Can we help?
No, patient will need to go to the emergency room for surgical intervention
Elbow
Bursitis
How does it feel?
- swelling at the back of the elbow is typical
- pain in the region will begin as the swelling gets worse
- compressing the region will cause an increase in pain
- skin around the region may feel “hot to the touch”
Can we help?
Yes! However, if infection is suspected, this condition must be co-managed with your family physician.
Lateral epicondylitis (Tennis elbow)
How does it feel?
- pain typically begins as ache and then gets worse over time typically no specific injury can be blamed
- typically no specific injury can be blamed
- pain and/or burning on the outer part of the elbow pain may feel worse when opening when turning a doorknob
- pain may feel worse when opening when turning a door knob may have weakened grip strength
- may have weakened grip strength
Can we help?
Yes!
Lower Arms (Front)
Tennis elbow
How does it feel?
- Tenderness and pain along the outer bony part of the elbow
- Twisting motions with the hands or gripping objects makes the pain worse
- Stiffness of the outer portion of the elbow upon waking up
- Weakness in the forearms or wrist
- Pain may also refer into the forearm and wrist
Can we help?
Yes
Golfers elbow
How does it feel?
- Pain and tenderness along the inside of the elbow
- Pain may refer along the inner side of the forearm
- Weakness when trying to grip objects
Can we help?
Yes
Pronator dysfunction
How does it feel?
- Difficulty flexing the wrist and fingers
- Tenderness and pain in the wrist and forearm
- Severe pain when trying to stretch the forearm and wrist
- May cause nerve compression, which may lead to numbness and tingling down the forearm and into the last 3 fingers
Can we help?
Yes
Supinator dysfunction
How does it feel?
- Deep pain in the forearm
- Weakness in the forearm and wrist
- Severe pain when trying to stretch the forearm and wrist
- May cause nerve compression, which may lead to numbness and tingling down the forearm and into the the thumb and index finger
Can we help?
Yes
Hand & Wrist
Carpal tunnel
How does it feel?
- Burning, tingling, and numbness in the palm of the hands and fingers
- Symptoms occur mostly during the night
- Pain occurs when typing on a computer, holding an object
- Constant need to shake out your hand to relive symptoms
- Weakness in the hands
Can we help?
Yes. However, it may need to be co-managed with your family physician
Wrist strain
How does it feel?
- Pain with active and resisted wrist movement
- Swelling around the wrist joint
- A pop may have been heard at the time of injury
Can we help?
Yes
Wrist sprain
How does it feel?
- Swelling and throbbing in the wrist
- Pain when you passively and actively move your wrist
- Possible bruising and discolouration of the wrist
- There maybe instability of the wrist
Can we help?
Yes. However, if there is a dislocation of the joints, this condition will need to be co-managed with the family physician
Wrist joint restriction
How does it feel?
- Stiffness in the wrist
- Reduced ranges of motion. Specifically, in joint extension
- Feels like joints of the wrist are stuck
Can we help?
Yes
Wrist bone fracture
How does it feel?
- Severe swelling and tenderness in the wrist
- Inability to move the wrist and fingers without pain
- May cause numbness and tingling into the hands and fingers
Can we help?
No. You must to go an emergency room and consult with an orthopedic surgeon
Palm muscle dysfunction
How does it feel?
- Pain in the palm or lower thumb region of the hand
- Nerve compression can occur, this would lead to pins and needless and loss of sensation in the palm
- Difficulty holding objects in the hand
- Fingers may become sensitive to temperature if arteries are being compressed in the palm
Can we help?
Yes
Finger/Thumb sprain
How does it feel?
- Swelling in the fingers or thumbs
- Pain with passive and active joint motion
- The joints may feel instable
Can we help?
Yes. However, if there is a dislocation of the joints, this condition will need to be co-managed with the family physician
Finger/Thumb strain
How does it feel?
- Pain with active and resisted range of motion of thumbs or fingers
- Swelling in the fingers or thumbs
- Tenderness upon touch
Can we help?
Yes
Hand fracture
How does it feel?
- Severe swelling in the hand
- Inability to move your fingers, hand and wrist
- Tenderness upon touch
- Complete loss of grip strength
Can we help?
No. You must to go an emergency room and consult with an orthopedic surgeon
Trunk (Abs / Stomach)
Abdominal dysfunction
How does it feel?
- Pain in the abdominal area which is worse when you move around
- Random muscle spasm or cramping
- Difficulty bending forward or side to side
- Pain with coughing, sneezing and deep breaths
Can we help?
Yes. However, rest is very important with abdominal dysfunctions
Groin
Groin Strain
How does it feel?
- sharp pain at inner thigh or near fold of skin where trunk joins upper leg
- pain when you actively try to bring your knees together
- pain when you actively try to raise you knee up to your chest
- often a pop or snap is heard at the time of the injury, which may be followed by immediate sharp pain
Can we help?
Yes! However, it is important rest and apply ice during the first 48 hours of the injury.
Sports Hernia aka Hockey Groin
How does it feel?
- pain in the groin area that gets better with rest and returns with activity (running, cutting, twisting etc.)
- usually isolated to one side of groin
- coughing or sneezing may causing pain in the groin
- lower abdominal pain or tenderness when pressing down in region
Can we help?
Yes! If your groin pain continues while at rest, you should consult your family physician for further testing.
Nerve Compression
How does it feel?
- numbness and/or tingling in the outer part of thigh
- burning sensation may be felt in outer part of thigh
- sensitivity to light touch and temperature change may be felt as well
- pain usually feels like it is in the skin ,and not deep in the muscle of outer thigh
Can we help?
Yes!
Upper Legs
Hip Flexor Dysfunction
How does it feel?
- sudden and sharp pain in front of the high, or near the groin mild to severe pain with movement (walking, running etc.)
- mild to severe pain with movement (walking, running etc.)limping while walking is very common
- limping while walking is very common weakness and muscle spasm in the region are possible as well
- weakness and muscle spasm in the region are possible as well similar symptoms to
- similar symptoms to groin dysfunction but pinpoint pain is in specific spots
Can we help?
Yes! However, patients are referred to orthopedic surgeons if a complete tear is suspected.
Charley Horse (Muscle cramping)
How does it feel?
- sudden and painful muscle spasm (involuntary contraction) in upper thigh
- usually doesn’t last too long
Can we help?
Yes! Typically managed with nutritional consultation and mobility training.
Knee
Kneecap dislocation
How does it feel?
- kneecap looks like it has moved
- immediate pain at time of injury
- swelling after injury that may remain for some time
- kneecap may “pop itself back into place”, but the pain and swelling will stay
- you may be able to move the knee cap left to right a lot more than normal (hypermobile)
Can we help?
Yes! However, further imaging may be necessary to assess for damage to bones or other structures.
Kneecap (Patellar) Tracking Dysfunction
How does it feel?
- kneecap looks like it has moved
- immediate pain at time of injury
- swelling after injury that may remain for some time
- kneecap may “pop itself back into place”, but the pain and swelling will stay
- you may be able to move the knee cap left to right a lot more than normal (hypermobile
Can we help?
Yes! However, further imaging may be necessary to assess for damage to bones or other structures.
ACL Dysfunction
How does it feel?
- may hear popping or snapping sound at time of injury in knee
- instability in knee while walking (it may “give out”)
- discomfort while walking afterwards
- pain and swelling in the knee
- range of motion in knee is limited
- may have no pain when knee is stressed with ACL tests (complete tear expected)
Can we help?
Yes! However, surgical consultation may be required depending on the degree of sprain.
MCL Dysfunction
How does it feel?
- may hear popping or snapping sound at time of injury in knee
- your knee joint may “lock up”
- instability in knee while walking (it may “give out”)
- mild to severe pain and tenderness along the inner part of your knee
Can we help?
Yes! However, surgical consultation may be required depending on the degree of sprain.
LCL Dysfunction
How does it feel?
- instability in knee while walking (it may “give out”)
- mild to severe pain and tenderness on outside of knee
- standing up from sitting position will cause pain on outside of knee in particular
- sitting cross legged will aggravate the pain on outside of knee
- your knee joint may “lock up”
Can we help?
Yes! However, surgical consultation may be required depending on the degree of sprain.
Meniscus Dysfunction
How does it feel?
- pain at the joint line of knee
- your knee joint may “lock up”
- may hear popping or snapping sound at time of injury in knee
- pain and swelling in the knee
- you are likely to have difficulty bending and straightening out your leg (especially going from one position to the other i.e bend to straighten)
Can we help?
Yes! However, surgical consultation may be required depending on the degree of injury.
Patellar Tendonitis
How does it feel?
- pain that is more concentrated right below the kneecap
- pain and discomfort while bending the knee
- instability in knee while walking (it may “give out”)
- kneecap may appear to have moved up from normal position (complete tear expected)
- area below kneecap may be more painful when walking downstairs or running downhill
Can we help?
Yes! However, surgical consultation may be required if a full tear is expected.
Osgood-Schlatter (most common in youth)
How does it feel?
- pain and tenderness on the small bump (tibial tuberosity) below kneecap
- bump is typically larger when compared to the non-painful side
- pain may be constant or on and off with activity
- muscle tightness in upper leg (front and back)
Can we help?
Yes! However, this condition may need to be co-managed with your family physician.
Arthritis
How does it feel?
- pain with activity and less pain with rest
- swelling in the knee
- knee may feel “hot to the touch” when compared with other regions
- knee stiffness when getting out of bed or when you have been sitting for a long time
Can we help?
Yes! Nutritional intervention is very important in the management of arthritis.
Baker’s Cyst
How does it feel?
- swelling behind the knee
- a bulge may be visible and painful to the touch behind the knee
- tightness or stiffness behind the knee is common
- pain behind the knee may refer into the calf
Can we help?
Yes! However, the cyst may need to be drained if it does not self-resolve over a long period of time (co-management with family physician.)
Bursitis
How does it feel?
- swelling around the knee (may be significant)
- range of motion is limited in the knee (stiffness)
- moving the knee is painful
- knee may be “hot to the touch” and may notice redness over the skin
Can we help?
Yes! However, may need to be managed with family physician if infection expected.
Bow leggedness
How does it feel?
- may feel pain and discomfort on the outside of the knees
- may have pain in your ankles and hips due to altered walking pattern
- visually, your legs will bow outward (knees will be too far apart from each other)
Can we help?
Yes! Especially with pain and movement. Visual correction is possible as well with intensive exercise and treatment program.
Knock Knees
How does it feel?
- may feel pain and discomfort on the inside of the knees
- may have pain in your ankles and hips due to altered walking pattern
- visually, your legs will bow outward (knees will be too close to each other)
Can we help?
Yes! Especially with pain and movement. Visual correction is possible as well with intensive exercise and treatment program.
Lower Legs
Shin Splints
How does it feel?
- ache or pain in front of lower leg (shin area)
- more painful during activity, especially running or jumping
- pain allow the inner part of lower leg bone is common
- swelling may be present at the shins
Can we help?
Yes!
Nerve compression
How does it feel?
- numbness or tingling on the shin or top of foot
- difficulty and weakness while trying to point your toes toward your body (dorsiflexion)
- may have burning pain over the top of the foot
- may experience pain that doesn’t go away with rest or while trying to sleep (deep nerve entrapment)
Can we help?
Yes!
Bone bruise
How does it feel?
- change in color of the surface of shin
- swelling near the area of impact and surrounding structures
- pain and tenderness in the area that doesn’t go away after 48-72 hours
- joint pain near the impacted area may be present
Can we help?
Yes! However, condition may need to be assessed by your family physician to rule out more serious issues.
Fractures
How does it feel?
- severe pain in the area of impact
- immediate swelling around the area of impact
- can’t bear weight on leg (tibia)
- skin over shin bone may tear or appeared deformed
- may lose feeling in the foot if nerve damaged during injury
Can we help?
No! Please go to your nearest emergency room.
Foot & Ankle
Ankle Sprain
How does it feel?
- swelling around the ankle joint
- pain immediately at the time of injury is common
- pain and tenderness while bearing weight
- bruising may be visible in the days after injury
- ankle stiffness
Can we help?
Yes! However, surgical intervention may be necessary in very severe cases.
Joint Restriction
How does it feel?
- stiffness in the joint during active and passive movement
- feeling as if there is a “block” at the front of ankle joint
- inability to squat deeply due to stiffness is common
Can we help?
Yes!
Fracture
How does it feel?
- severe pain at the time of injury
- immediate swelling after injury
- bruising may be present in the days after injury
- inability to bear weight on the foot and ankle
- bone or skin deformity is possible depending on severity
Can we help?
No! Please go to your nearest emergency room.
Plantar Fasciitis
How does it feel?
- heel at the base of the heel when you take your first steps after sleeping
- sharp pain at the bottom of your foot with active movement
- pain gets worse when you climb stairs or stand on toes
- pain at beginning of exercise, no pain during exercise, pain after exercise completed
Can we help ?
Yes!
Calcaneal Bursitis
How does it feel?
- pain in the heel while walking or running
- pain in the heel when area is compressed
- redness behind the heel
- heel area may be “hot to the touch”
Can we help ?
Yes!
Bone Spur
How does it feel?
- pain in the heel at area of bone spur
- pain and tenderness in the surrounding area
- stiffness in the foot and surrounding joints
- difficulty walking on hard surfaces
Can we help?
Maybe. Co-management with your family physician may be necessary.
Flat feet
How does it feel?
- pain and achiness in the arches of your feet
- swelling at the bottom of feet
- heel pain may be present
- feet feel tired and weak
- may have associated knee, hip and low back pain
- visually the arch of the foot looks to be collapsed
Can we help?
Yes!
Bunions
How does it feel?
- a bump or bulge on the outside of the base of big toe
- joint may appear red and swollen
- tenderness and pain that comes and goes
- restricted movement in the big toe
- visually the big toes point away from each other
Can we help?
Yes! However, if severe arthritic change is present, visual correction may be difficult.
Nerve compression (tarsal tunnel syndrome)
How does it feel?
- numbness, tingling and/or burning on the bottom of the foot
- typically feel the symptoms in one foot
- pain symptoms may get worse at night
- pain is usually relieved with rest
- standing or walking too long will make the pain worse
Can we help?
Yes! However, diabetic neuropathy must be ruled out, and this condition is therefore co-managed with your family physician.
Joint Restriction
How does it feel?
- stiffness in your foot joints during active and passive movement
- feeling as if there is a “block” in the foot joints
- inability to lean on your toes is common
Can we help?
Yes!
Fracture
How does it feel?
- severe pain at the time of injury
- immediate swelling after injury
- bruising may be present in the days after injury
- inability to bear weight on the foot
- bone or skin deformity is possible depending on severity
Can we help?
No! Please go to your nearest emergency room.
