If you have ever been hit hard in the thigh with someone’s knee or shoulder, you most likely know how painful and debilitating a corked thigh can be. A cork, or a muscle contusion as was formerly known, is a common occurrence in contact sports, as well as sports like cricket and hockey when a player is hit by the ball.

Contusions result from blunt trauma to a muscle such as when two players collide and one is hit in the thigh by the knee of the other. The underlying muscle and connective tissue are crushed without breaking the skin. This causes bleeding within or between muscles resulting in a haematoma. A cork may result in immediate pain, weakness, muscle spasm and stiffness.

Most contusions are minor and heal quickly, however if you lose joint range or power in the leg, have trouble with explosive bursts or kicking, it is time to come off the ground and not return to play.

It is important that treatment of a muscle contusion starts immediately, with the first 48 hours post injury the most important.

Immediate treatment for a corked muscle should include ceasing activity, icepacks applied every two hours for 15 minutes, bandage the corked muscle with an elasticized bandage, elevate the injured limb above heart height whenever possible and avoid exercise, heat, alcohol and massage in the first 48 hours.

Range of motion is a good indicator as to the severity of the injury. Difficulty flexing the knee past 90 degrees may suggest a more severe injury that requires a physiotherapy assessment.t.

For the fitness of you,

Linda Reilly

Flannery’s and Life Pharmacies are focusing on diabetes awareness during July and August. “We are trying to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and early treatment for all types of diabetes,” said Sarah Hazell, Pharmacist. “Unfortunately too many Australians are being diagnosed with diabetes too late,” said Sarah “and the delay in diagnosis is putting many people at risk of major health problems”.

Early diagnosis, treatment, ongoing support and management can reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults, the leading cause of kidney failure, the leading cause of preventable limb amputations and increases the risk of heart attacks and stroke by up to four times.

“Around 5 percent of Australians aged 18 years or older have diabetes,” said Sarah “and the risk of diabetes increases with age, from 2.8 percent in people aged 35 to 44 to 15 percent in those aged 65 to 74”.

If you would like to know more about diabetes, please call into either Flannery’s or Life Pharmacies and speak to the registered nurse or one of the pharmacists.

They can provide you with information and advice and refer you to your GP for further investigation if necessary.

A baker’s cyst, also known as a popliteal cyst, is a swelling at the back of the knee joint. Baker’s cysts are fairly common and are associated with chronic swelling within the knee joint. They occur, most frequently, secondary to degenerative disease within the knee joint such as osteoarthritis or meniscal degeneration. The main sign that a baker’s cyst is present will be a bulge and a feeling of tightness behind the knee.

This may be tender to touch with pain and stiffness often worsening as the knee is straightened after activity or when squatting or kneeling.

Just as a door hinge requires oil to reduce friction and allow smooth movement, similarly, the cartilage and tendons in the knee joint rely on a lubricating fluid called synovial fluid. Synovial fluid circulates around the knee joint and in and out of various fluid sacs called bursae that communicate with the knee joint. Sometimes when a structure within the knee joint is damaged or inflamed too much fluid is produced. If this fluid gets trapped in the popliteal bursae it is called a baker’s cyst.

If a baker’s cyst is suspected the whole knee joint should be assessed thoroughly as treatment involves treatment of the underlying cause. Once the cause has been addressed the swelling generally settles down. Sometimes the bursae might be drained or surgically removed but if the underlying cause of the swelling is not corrected the swelling will just return.

Strengthening exercises for the lower limb can help to improve joint biomechanics and to decrease the load on the knee.

“For the fitness of you,”

Linda Reilly