Soft tissue dysfunction Flashcards
Soft tissue injury vs soft tissue dysfunction
Soft tissue injury: Damage to any biological tissue except for bone
Soft tissue dysfunction: Dysfunctional tissue that is non pathological e.g., free from disease/inflammation
Soft tissue injury
Structures are taken beyond their normal range of motion through impact or trauma
Types of soft tissue injury
- Muscular strain
- Muscle spasm
- Tendon strain/rupture
- Overuse injury
- Ligament strain
- Bursitis
- Nerve injury
- Intra/intermuscular haematoma
Intra/intermuscular Haematoma
Intramuscular Haematoma: Bleeding within a muscle
Intermuscular Haematoma: Bleeding between muscle compartments
Strain
Muscle strain: Tearing of muscle/tendon fibres
Tendon strain: Tearing of tendon fibres
Overuse injuries
Multiple tiny strains due to excessive repetitive movement or prolonged muscular use
Sprains
Joint forced past the limits of movement leading to tears in ligaments
Bursitis
Inflammation of bursa (sac-like cavity found in connective tissue)
Tendinopathy
Continuum of disrepair and subsequent degeneration \
Neuropraxia
Compression/traction of a nerve
Nerve injuries
Neurological symptoms such as:
- Loss of sensation (numb)
- Loss of function
- Atrophy of muscle
- Shooting pain
- Tingling
Muscle spasm
Protective mechanism in response to injury or can be due to neurological conditions
Kinetic chain
Made up of:
- Myofascia system
- Articular system
- Nervous system
KC imbalances = soft tissue dysfunction
Movers and stabalisers
Phasic/movers prone to:
- Overaactive, short and hypertonic
- Facilitated
Postural/stabalisers prone to:
- Weakness, fatigues easily and appears ‘tight’
- Inhibited
Facilitated vs inhibited
- Stabilising muscles are prone to weakness and are usually underachieve (inhibited)
- Phasic/movers are overactive (facilitated) and fatigue easily, especially during new movement patterns
Facilitated (movers)
Short and hypertonic
Inhibited (stabilisers)
Long and weak
Assessment of soft tissue dysfunction
‘Normal tissue’:
- Feels resilient and pliable
- Blanches when compressed but quickly returns to normal
- No pain upon palpation
Dysfunctional tissue:
- Feels fibrous
- Thickened
- Stiff and tight
- Tissue gives resistance upon palpation
- Pain patterns are wider and duller
Palpation findings
- Adhesions, superficial snd deep
- Trigger points
- Scar tissues
- Hypertonicity of muscles
Superficial adhesions
- Normally exist between superficial fascination and the skin
- Skin rolling - the skin should move evenly and glide over the underlying structures
- If there were adhesions, the area is stuck or restricted when rolling
Deep adhesions
- Deep investing fascia layers that lie between the superficial fascia and muscles
- Function of the deep fascia is to allow muscles to move freely
Triggers points
- Hyperirritable spots within muscle fibres
- Upon palpation there is a ‘drag’ in the tissue
Hypertonic muscles
- Need to be assessed in response to compressive and stretching forces
- Higher the resting tension, the denser and harder he tissue will be upon palpation
- Can effect whole area or specific bits
Assessment of soft tissue dysfunction (other than palpation)
- Reduces ROM
- Muscle weakness and/or hypotrophy
- Asymmetrical changes
