Populations across the world suffer from osteoarthritis (OA), the most common degenerative joint condition in world, causing large amounts of pain, disability and expense. Western developed populations are ageing and as the incidence of OA rises with each decade of life the impact of this condition will be felt ever more strongly. Less developed countries such as China will soon be joining the countries with ageing populations so the need for effective OA treatment will increase greatly. One of the approaches to managing OA is to perform joint replacement.

The shoulder, or more strictly the glenohumeral joint, is a major and important joint in the upper limb, responsible mostly for placing the hand in front of the body where the eyes can see it as it performs tasks. To allow this ability the shoulder has a very large range of movement, moderate strength and limited stability. This makes the shoulder a "soft tissue joint", where the stability and satisfactory function depend on the function of the soft tissues, the ligaments, tendons and muscles. For physiotherapists the shoulder is an important joint, with much treatment and pre- and post-operative rehab required.

Piriformis syndrome has been recognised as a source of buttock and leg pain for 80 years, but it is still a controversial diagnosis. The pain is thought to be related to the proximity of the muscle to the sciatic nerve in the buttock and irritation or compression of the nerve have been suggested as causes. Physiotherapists diagnose and treat piriformis syndrome regularly, as it can often be mistaken for sciatica.

To the extent that stretching and strengthening your body is helpful - and most back pain sufferers agree that it is - yoga exercises can be an excellent way to ease back pain. To the extent that stress contributes to back pain - and again, most back sufferers feel that it does - yoga exercise scores again.

Back pain at some point will rear its ugly head with most of it. It may be lower back, shoulders or maybe the neck. Either it is the result of injury or it is the more gradual progression. If it is more gradual, then do not wait until it is a problem to get it looked at. If you are injured you go immediately, but when back pain just creeps up, then we do nothing. There are treatment options available. Preventative options are better. Check with your health care professional on a course of action for you. Most likely, massage therapy will be part of the healing process. Professional massage therapy is preferred, but not always convenient. Massage chairs are another alternative with many benefits

Low back Pain & Sciatica can be very painful conditions, where pain is felt either in the low back & / or passing down the leg from either the low back or buttock region. There are several reasons as to why you may suffer with Low Back Pain or Sciatica, but a tight Piriformis muscle is a relatively common cause.

Back pain at some point will rear its ugly head with most of it. It may be lower back, shoulders or maybe the neck. Either it is the result of injury or it is the more gradual progression. If it is more gradual, then do not wait until it is a problem to get it looked at. If you are injured you go immediately, but when back pain just creeps up, then we do nothing. There are treatment options available. Preventative options are better. Check with your health care professional on a course of action for you. Most likely, massage therapy will be part of the healing process. Professional massage therapy is preferred, but not always convenient. Massage chairs are another alternative with many benefits

Although Low Back Pain & Sciatica are two separate conditions, with the former relating to pain felt in and around the Lower Back region and the latter describing pain wihch travels down the leg, they share a lot of similarities with regards to their cause. One of several common causes between them is a tight Piriformis muscle.

Our backs take a beating, with up to 80% of the total population suffering pain at least once in their life. It isn't just an ailment of the elderly, either. 4 out of 5 people under the age of 45 suffer enough to take time off work at least once because of their back pain. Back pain is the second leading cause of missing a day.

Although Low Back Pain & Sciatica are two separate conditions, with the former relating to pain felt in and around the Lower Back region and the latter describing pain wihch travels down the leg, they share a lot of similarities with regards to their cause. One of several common causes between them is a tight Piriformis muscle.