Injuries and Conditions
Injuries and Conditions
Use this injuries and conditions guide to search by symptom, body region or injury type. You can also browse the main categories below.
PhysioWorks provides practical information about common muscle, joint, tendon, ligament, spinal, sporting and pain-related conditions. Each guide explains common symptoms, contributing factors, assessment options and rehabilitation pathways.
Search Injuries and Conditions
Search PhysioWorks for a symptom, body region, injury or condition.
Browse by Body Region
Choose the area that most closely matches your symptoms.
Headaches, Neck and Jaw
Browse headaches, neck pain, jaw pain and related upper cervical conditions.
Shoulder Pain
Explore shoulder pain, weakness, stiffness, instability and movement restriction.
Arm, Elbow, Wrist and Hand
Find upper-limb conditions that can affect grip, lifting, work and daily activities.
Back and Spine
Browse back pain, spinal conditions and symptoms that may travel into an arm or leg.
Hip and Groin
Explore hip, pelvic and groin conditions that may affect walking, sitting or exercise.
Knee Pain
Find information about kneecap, ligament, tendon, cartilage and joint problems.
Calf and Lower Leg
Browse calf pain, shin pain, lower-leg injuries and exercise-related symptoms.
Foot and Ankle
Explore ankle, heel, arch, forefoot and toe conditions.
Browse by Symptom or Injury Type
Symptoms can have several possible causes. Use these pathways as a starting point rather than a diagnosis.
Muscle, Tendon and Ligament Injuries
Browse strains, sprains, tears, tendinopathy and other soft-tissue problems.
Pain and Nerve Symptoms
Explore persistent pain, nerve pain, tingling, numbness, burning and sensitivity.
Sports Injuries
Find sport-specific injuries, activity guidance and return-to-sport pathways.
Arthritis and Joint Conditions
Browse osteoarthritis, inflammatory conditions, joint pain and stiffness.
Common Types of Injuries and Conditions
Musculoskeletal problems fall into several broad categories. However, similar symptoms can come from different tissues, health conditions or physical demands.
These injuries may affect joint stability, movement confidence and tolerance of twisting or impact.
Muscle strains often follow sudden loading, fatigue, overstretching or an unfamiliar activity.
Tendon problems commonly cause pain during repeated activity or when the tendon faces greater load.
Joint symptoms may relate to arthritis, injury, inflammation or reduced movement.
Nerve symptoms may include pain, tingling, numbness, burning, sensitivity or weakness.
Bone and cartilage injuries
Significant trauma, an inability to bear weight or marked swelling may require medical assessment and imaging.
Rehabilitation often progresses from protecting the affected area and restoring comfortable movement towards strength, capacity and return to normal activity.
For less urgent injuries, early guidance may help you manage activity and avoid further aggravation. Read the acute injury management guide for practical first steps.
Why Does an Individual Assessment Matter?
The same symptom may come from different tissues or contributing factors. Knee pain, for example, may involve a ligament, meniscus, tendon, kneecap or load-related joint irritation.
Likewise, shoulder pain may relate to the rotator cuff, joint stiffness, instability or symptoms referred from the neck. Back pain may involve muscles, joints, discs, nerves or several contributing factors.
A physiotherapist considers your injury history, symptom behaviour, movement, strength and function. This assessment can help guide management and identify when medical review or imaging may be useful.
How Does Injury Rehabilitation Progress?
Rehabilitation should match the affected tissue, stage of recovery and activities you want to resume.
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Settle Symptoms and Protect the Area
Early management may include changing aggravating activities, managing swelling and maintaining comfortable movement where safe.
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Restore Movement, Strength and Control
Rehabilitation may progress to mobility work, strengthening, balance exercises and functional tasks.
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Rebuild Capacity and Confidence
Later rehabilitation may include heavier strength work, endurance, work tasks, agility or return-to-sport testing.
The soft-tissue injury healing guide explains how rehabilitation may change across early, middle and later recovery stages.
How Long Does an Injury Take to Heal?
Recovery time depends on the affected tissue, severity of the problem, general health and the physical demands you need to meet.
Some mild sprains and muscle strains improve within days or weeks. Tendon problems, fractures, major ligament injuries and long-standing joint conditions may require considerably longer rehabilitation.
Time alone does not determine readiness to return. Symptoms, movement, strength, confidence and functional testing can also guide progression.
How Can You Reduce the Risk of Another Injury?
No strategy can prevent every injury. However, practical preparation may reduce modifiable risks and improve your readiness for work, exercise or sport.
Build Load Gradually
Avoid sudden increases in training, lifting, running or repetitive work where possible.
Develop Strength and Control
Build the strength, balance and movement control required for your chosen activity.
Prepare and Recover
Use a suitable warm-up and allow enough recovery between demanding sessions.
People with recurring problems may benefit from a biomechanical assessment or a structured strength rehabilitation program.
Not Sure What Is Causing Your Pain?
You do not need to know your exact diagnosis before arranging an assessment. Start with the body region, symptom or activity that best matches your concern.
New Pain or Injury
Physiotherapy may be a suitable first pathway when you need an injury or movement assessment and rehabilitation guidance.
Long-Term Strength or Health Goals
Exercise Physiology may suit structured exercise, chronic health management and longer-term conditioning.
Muscle Tension or Recovery Support
Massage may suit muscle tension, relaxation or recovery support when assessment of a new injury is not the main need.
Related Injury and Rehabilitation Guides
What Should You Do Next?
Consider a physiotherapy assessment when pain limits work, sleep, exercise or confidence in movement. Your physiotherapist can discuss likely contributing factors, identify practical goals and guide an appropriate rehabilitation plan.
Choose your clinic and appointment pathway
Select a PhysioWorks clinic to continue to live booking, an appointment request or reception assistance.
References and Further Reading
- Wagemans J, Bleakley C, Taeymans J, et al. Exercise-based rehabilitation reduces reinjury following acute lateral ankle sprain: a systematic review update with meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2022;17(2):e0262023. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0262023.
- Challoumas D, Crosbie G, O’Neill S, Pedret C, Millar NL. Effectiveness of exercise treatments with or without adjuncts for lower limb tendinopathies: a living systematic review and network meta-analysis. Sports Medicine – Open. 2023;9(1):71.
- MedlinePlus. Sports injuries. US National Library of Medicine.
Injuries and Conditions FAQs
When should I see a physiotherapist after an injury?
Consider an assessment when pain limits walking, lifting, sleep, work or sport, when movement feels unstable, or when symptoms are not improving as expected. A physiotherapist can assess your movement and function and guide suitable rehabilitation.
What should I do in the first 48 hours after a sprain or strain?
Protect the injured area from further aggravation and keep moving within a comfortable range where safe. Avoid activities that sharply increase pain or swelling. Seek assessment sooner if you cannot bear weight, notice major swelling or suspect a fracture.
How long does an injury take to heal?
Healing time depends on the tissue involved, injury severity, general health and activity demands. Mild sprains and strains may improve within weeks, while tendon, joint, fracture or major ligament injuries may require longer rehabilitation.
Can physiotherapy reduce the chance of another injury?
Physiotherapy rehabilitation may address strength, mobility, balance, movement control and activity progression. Improving these factors may increase readiness for work, daily activity or sport, although no program can prevent every injury.
Do I need a scan for my injury?
Many musculoskeletal injuries can be assessed without immediate imaging. A physiotherapist or doctor may recommend an X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan or MRI when a fracture, significant tissue injury or another condition requires investigation.
