Knee and Lower Leg Conditions Townsville

The Achilles tendon is the strongest tendon in the human body and serves as the attachment of the soleus and gastrocnemius (calf muscle group) into the calcaneus (heel bone). The calf muscle and Achilles are responsible for pushing off during walking and running.

The anterior cruciate ligament or (ACL) is a major stabilising ligament in the knee. The ACL is a band of connective tissue that joins the back of the femur (thigh) to the front of the tibia (shin), stopping the tibia from moving forwards on the femur.

A sudden pain into the back of the calf or acute soreness following sport is often a calf strain. If the muscle is put under increased tension during contraction either through repetition or high force, the result is tissue failure.

The iliotibial band (ITB) is a band on fascial connective tissue that runs down the outside of the upper leg and attaches into the tibia (shin bone), the femoral epicondyle (outside of the thigh bone) and into the patella (knee cap).

The medial cruciate ligament or (MCL) is a major stabilising ligament on the inside of the knee, which resists forces applied from the outside of the knee.

Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease is defined as an overuse injury to the growth plate of the tibial tubercle (area on the shin, just below the knee cap).

Tendons are structures that attached a muscle to bone. The patella tendon is a continuation of the quadriceps tendon to which the quadriceps muscle group attach. Tendinopathy is classified by overuse of the tendon, which leads to disrepair and degeneration.

The posterior cruciate ligament or (PCL) is a primary stabilising ligament in the knee. The PCL is made up of two thick bands of connective tissue that joins the back of the femur (thigh) to the top of the tibia (shin), stopping the tibia from excessively moving backwards on the femur.

Shin splints is a generalised term referring to pain down the front of the lower leg. Shin splints often is used interchangeably to describe the following conditions:

1. Medialtibialstresssyndrome(MTSS) 2. Tibialstressfractures 3. Compartmentsyndrome

The most accurate classification of shin splints is MTSS.

A thigh contusion, otherwise known as a ‘corked thigh, charley horse or dead leg’ is an injury from a severe blow to the quadriceps muscle group on the front of the femur (thigh bone).

A TKR is a surgical operation performed on someone’s knee that is damaged, normally through osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or following trauma in association with post- traumatic arthritis.