Soft Tissue Pain
Soft tissue pain refers to any pain originating from muscles, ligaments, tendons or other soft tissue structures in the body. These are commonly referred to as 'sprains' or 'strains'.
Common soft tissue injuries include sprains and strains.
Sprains are injuries to the ligaments - these connect bone to bone. When the joint is pushed past its available range of motion, the ligament stretches and sometimes tears. Ligament sprains usually happen suddenly, and are accompanied by significant pain and swelling.
Strains are injuries to the muscles. When the muscle is over-stretched, tears can occur in the muscle belly. This is typically accompanied by significant pain and sometimes bruising.
The prognosis of recovery depends on the degree of injury, the type of soft tissue, and the area affected. Expert assessment by a physiotherapist is required to diagnose the issue and inform a rehabilitation programme. If the problem persists, shockwave therapy can be added into the programme to assist with recovery.