Common Conditions

Low back pain will affect most people at some time in their lives. There are a variety of causes of low back pain, the most common being intervertebral discs, facet joints and soft tissues (including muscles, ligaments and tendons). The type of low back pain you experience will vary depending on which structures are implicated, but it may range from pin-point sharp pain with movement to constant aching pain that is quite diffuse.

Nerves are commonly aggravated in low back issues as they exit the spine at the intervertebral foramen where they are susceptible to compression and inflammatory irritation. This process is responsible for sciatica, a reasonably common low back disorder. Where nerve irritation or compression is present, in addition to pain you may experience pins and needles, numbness and weakness. It is very important that if you experience any of these symptoms that you seek physiotherapy or medical advice.

Our highly qualified physio staff at the The NT Physiotherapy Clinic Darwin treat all types of low back pain, so if you are in pain, come and see us today.

Ankle sprain is one of the most common leg injuries that we as physiotherapists see. There are a number of different types of ankle sprain and they affect different bones and ligaments. The most common sprain is called a plantarflexion/inversion sprain. This occurs when your foot rolls inward and it often damages the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. This commonly occurs in sport when landing on an opponents foot.

Ankle sprain is often very painful and people will have difficulty weight bearing on their injured ankle. It is important to seek qualified assistance with any ankle sprain as depending on the mechanism of injury there can sometimes be a small avulsion fracture, where ligament has torn a piece of bone off. In this instance a boot may be required to immobilise the ankle for a period of time. If no fracture is present, taping, appropriate physio techniques and home exercise will be used to ensure a rapid recovery. 

Cervicogenic headache is a headache that is caused by dysfunction in the neck. A number of headache types exist, including tension headaches, migraine and cluster headaches and these all have specific recognisable features. The key features of cervicogenic headache typically include being felt primarily on one side of the head, and being aggravated by neck movements. People will often complain of pain starting at the base of the skull and radiating forward to be felt along the side of the head or behind the eye. This is not an absolute list of potential symptoms, so if you are unsure you should seek the advice of a physiotherapist.

Where a headache is identified as being cervicogenic, physio treatment can be very effective in alleviating symptoms. If you suspect you have a cervicogenic headache, come and see one of our experienced staff at The NT Physiotherapy Clinic Darwin.

Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylalgia, is a common injury of the elbow that can be cause by numerous activities involving repetitive gripping and wrist extension. This may include sports such as tennis or squash, as well as occupational pursuits such as carpentry, sewing and bricklaying. The basic process behind tennis elbow involves microscopic tears at the attachment of the forearm extensor muscles to the elbow.

Pain may occur with or without an identifiable incident, and will be localised to the outside of the elbow. Pain will be aggravated by a range of gripping and lifting activities.

Physio treatment includes a range of techniques designed to alleviate pain and strengthen the muscle attachment that is affected. A tennis elbow brace will often be prescribed to assist in continuing daily activities without discomfort.

There are many causes of neck pain. The joints in the neck, called facet joints, can become stiff and sore due to poor posture, or they can become strained through trauma such as whiplash. Facet joints will cause local pain, but also refer pain down as far as the base of the shoulder blade. The muscles that support the neck can be torn, but more commonly are overloaded due to poor posture after which they can spasm. There are discs in between each vertebrae that can be damaged, and there are nerves that exit the neck to supply the upper limbs and trunk which can be compressed or chemically irritated by inflammation. Involvement of the nerves will usually include some symptoms of altered sensation in the shoulder or arm, such as pins and needles, numbness or weakness.

Physio treatment of neck pain may involve mobilisation, massage, acupuncture, exercise and a range of other techniques. Due to the numerous types and causes of neck pain, the treatment is very much dependent on the precise diagnosis.

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles that act to stabilise the shoulder joint through movement. With repetitive overhead activities or one traumatic event, these muscles can tear. The most common rotator cuff injury is to the supraspinatus; this muscle passes through the subacromial space (a bony tunnel) on its way to attaching to the humerus. It is prone to wear in the subacromial space and is commonly torn partially or fully with high force actions such as heavy overhead lifting.

Rotator cuff injury commonly causes pain around the shoulder joint but can also refer pain into the upper and even lower arm. Patients will often have limited ability to raise their arm above their head and pain with tasks such as hanging washing, reaching to their back pocket and lying on their injured side.

Physio treatment aims to minimise pain, restore normal movement and then strengthen the rotator cuff to provide optimal stability.