My main objective today was to gain information from my supervisor on employment after my university degree. I am in the second year of my studies and I have only got one more term, before I am looking for employment as a rehabilitator. I know that it can be hard to obtain work with the competition out there and therefore I want to get myself ahead and make sure that I am doing what I need to do to increase my employability.
One of the patients that I saw today was a patient complaining of pain in the legs. He was a 28-year-old Submariner, who competes in county level cross country running. The pain started around 4 weeks prior to the appointment and the patient could not recall any thing that caused the onset. The pain was described as a tingling pain down the legs and he also had an aching pain in his back. The pain is aggerated when he sits for long periods of time and the patient stated that nothing made the symptoms improve. The pain is at worse at night and comes and goes in intensity in the day. The patient has had no significant injuries or illnesses In his past. On initial observation the client was flat footed, however explained that he normally has special insoles that he forgot to put in today. On palpation the client was extremely tight around the glutes and especially the Piriformis muscle. Because of the time allowed per player I was limited the special tests. The patient tested negative in the straight leg raise and positive in the Slump test. I believe the client is experiencing symptoms of sciatica, from the tightness of the Piriformis muscle.
I gave him a sports massage concentrating on the Piriformis muscle, using MET’s and deep friction. After the massage I showed the client certain stretches exercises that focused on stretching and strengthening the Piriformis muscle. Treatment of Piriformis Syndrome can involve stretching and strengthening of the hip abductors and rotator, it can be beneficial to rest the condition to try to decrease the inflammation (“Everything You Need to Know About Piriformis Syndrome”, 2020). I got to get more experience on my tapping and taped 3 wrists, 1 ankle and a bicep with `ktape. I believe my taping Is improving from getting hands on experience this week. I talked to my supervisor and I am starting to look at jobs and what the requirements are.
If I could of changed anything about the above appointment I would of gone in to the appointment having brushed up on my spinal injury knowledge. I have a spine module later on in the year and I am excited to learn and take what I learn to the real working environment.
Everything You Need to Know About Piriformis Syndrome. (2020). Retrieved 31 July 2020, from https://runnersconnect.net/piriformis-syndrome-running/