Debilitating Leg Pain Relieved in Series of Treatments
Client Info
Age: 20
Occupation: Student, Junior Football player (linebacker), part-time farm worker
Exercise / Type and Frequency: football training, gym workouts
Currently Receiving Treatment from Another Health Care Provider: physio previously, but had no relief of symptoms.
Reason(s) for Seeking Treatment: pain in right Achilles tendon, shin/calf and knee
Frequency: For the past three months its painful to stand and bear weight, painful during walking, and is woken up at night with pain in the calf.
Injuries or Motor Vehicle Accidents & Dates: N/A
Surgeries & Dates: N/A
1st Appointment
Tests:
Standing Forward Flexion: (-) produced no pain in area of complaint, however feels tightness at the back of the legs. Manual direct pressure on posterior calves and Achilles tendon: (+) tenderness with deep pressure.
Manual direct pressure on hamstrings, lumbar, pelvis and sacrum: (-) produced no pain.
Manual direct pressure on pelvis and sacrum: (-) produced no pain.
Treatment Techniques:
Prone: Myofascial Release of lumbar paraspinal, gluteal and piriformis muscles, hamstrings and calf muscles. Counterstrain of Tender Points (Tp’s) on calf and foot.
Supine: Myofascial Release of quadriceps and calf muscles
Articular Mobilization of the proximal and distal Fibula Counterstrain of quadriceps and calf Tender Points (Tp’s) Harmonic Oscillation Long lever of lower extremities.
Home Care Exercise: Structural Alignment Therapy; Therapeutic Quad Stretch*
Therapists' Note: This exercise is covered in my Structural Alignment Therapy Training, among a long list of amazingly effective exercises for various conditions. Learn more >>
Series of Appointments
Result: at the next appointment patient reported he had no pain for the past two weeks, only woke up once in the night with pain.
Treatment Focus:
Myofascial Release, Ligamentous Articular Balancing, and Counterstrain of Points (Tp’s) of the muscles of the lower extremities. Each treatment also included Harmonic Oscillation for the lower extremities.
Result: after a series of treatments the patient no longer feels any pain during standing and walking, or during sleeping.
Clinical Impression
Calf pain was a result of muscular tension and hypertonic muscle bands due to insufficient stretching after physical exertion. In addition, during football this patient pushes off from the line using his right leg which creates additional torque and tension on the right posterior leg and foot. Proper stretching will continue to prevent any further flair-ups.
