A tendon may rupture when the muscle to which it is attached contracts suddenly and powerfully, usually during vigorous physical activity such as playing...

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Muscle strain occurs when a muscle is overstretched, damaging some of its fibres. A tear occurs when the damage is severe and affects many muscle fibres....

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Damage to cartilage commonly occurs in the knee joint, where two cartilage discs, known as menisci, act as shock absorbers between the femur (thigh bone)...

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Ligaments attach bones to each other within joints and help to keep joints stable. Ligaments are only slightly elastic and are easily damaged if they...

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A dislocated joint occurs when a bone has been displaced from its normal position. As a result of pain and the dislocation itself, movement of the joint...

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Any bone in the body can be fractured. Most fractures are caused by an injury such as a direct impact or a twisting movement, which may occur during an...

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A bunion is a thickened lump at the base of the big toe. It often becomes inflamed and painful, making walking difficult. The underlying cause is usually...

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Athletes and other people who exercise vigorously risk injury. Sports injuries often occur in people who are new to a sport, begin to exercise after prolonged...

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Bursae act as friction-reducing cushions around joints. Inflammation of a bursa, called bursitis, may occur if it is put under prolonged or repeated stress....

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Chondromalacia, also referred to as patellofemoral pain syndrome, occurs when the cartilage surface of the back of the patella (kneecap) is damaged. The...

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Pain and stiffness in a shoulder joint, severely restricting its movement, is known as frozen shoulder. The condition may be due to inflammation resulting...

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In spondylolisthesis, a vertebra (bone of the spine) slides forwards to project over the vertebra below, distorting the spinal canal. Spondylolisthesis...

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The shock-absorbing discs between the vertebrae (bones of the spine) consist of a strong, fibrous outer coat and soft, gelatinous core. A prolapsed disc...

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Lower back pain affects about 6 in 10 adults during the course of a year. More working days are lost due to back pain than to any other medical condition....

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Septic arthritis is an infection in the synovial fluid or tissues of a joint, such as a hip or a knee. The condition is usually caused by bacteria that...

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In pseudo-gout, crystals of calcium pyrophosphate or similar chemicals are deposited in joints, causing attacks of pain and stiffness. Usually, a single...

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Gout causes sudden pain and inflammation, usually in a single joint. The base of the big toe is the most common site, but any joint may be affected. The...

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Reactive arthritis is usually a short-term disorder that develops after a bacteria; infection of the genital tract, such as chlamidial infection or non-gonococcal...

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In ankylosing spondylitis, persistent joint inflammation affects the sacroiliac jonts at the back of the pelvis and the vertebrae in particular. If the...

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In rheumatoid arthritis, the affected joints become stiff and swollen as a result of inflammation of the synovial membrance, which encloses each joint....

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Cervical spondylosis is osteoarthritis affecting the upper spine. In this disorder, the vertebrae (bone of the spine) and the discs of cartilage between...

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In a joint affected by osteoarthritis, the protective cartilage found at the ends of bones is worn away. As the condition develops, the bone around the...

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The term arthritis covers a group of inflammatory and degenerative conditions that cause stiffness, swelling, and pain in the joints. Arthritis may also...

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Infection of the testis and epididymis (the coiled tube that stores and transports sperm away from the testis) can lead to inflammation called epididymo-orchitis....

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Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a common cause of pain in the pelvic region in women. In this condition, some of the female reproductive organs become...

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Normally, low levels of male sex hormones are present in females and are produced by the adrenal glands and the ovaries. However, if the production of...

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