Andy Franklyn-Miller as part of the Fascia Research Group in Melbourne, has been performing research into the role of fascia and muscle in injury. Both in terms of fascial pain generation and the ability for it to mimic posterior thigh pain and present in a similar fashion to hamstring injury, but also fascial roles in iliotibial band syndrome and in the conduction of strain of the plantar fascia hinting at the role of adjunct therapies such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

Posterior thigh pain is a common problem in all sport whether recreational or elite in level and some of this work leads to new treatment options for posterior thigh pain and also in muscle injury. This work goes on and the group expect to publish a number of papers in 2010 on this subject.

Innovative work in rehabilitation is adopted by sportsphysician ltd to include cutting edge techniques developed by leaders in the field of strength and conditioning and muscle physiology.

Dry Needling

The treatment of trigger points in the fascia and gluteal muscles can make significant improvements in the treatment of iliotibial band syndrome and lateral knee pain in runners. Amazingly most runners have poor single leg stability which requires the same side gluteal muscles to over work causing abnormal contractions of muscle. This alters the kinematics of gait and is the precursor to inflammation and hence pain.

The dry needling of the area - passing small acupuncture needle into the trigger point diffuses the abnormal contraction and allows the muscle to relax to its normal length alleviating some of the symptoms. Comprehensive biomechanical assessment can then reveal changes to be made in the gait and re education to prevent recurrence.