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All information in this blog is supported by NICE guidance and peer-reviewed research. Reference numbers appear throughout, with the full list at the bottom of the page. What Is Knee Osteoarthritis? Knee osteoarthritis is a progressive condition affecting the whole joint, the most common type of osteoarthritis in the UK, and the most prevalent joint disease overall. ¹ Key symptoms include knee pain, stiffness, and a gradual loss of physical function. ¹ Osteoarthritis affects

All information in this blog is supported by peer-reviewed research. There is currently no dedicated NICE guideline for this condition, so current evidence is used throughout. Reference numbers appear throughout, with the full list at the bottom of the page. What Is Iliotibial Band Syndrome? Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) is the second most common running injury and the leading cause of lateral (outer) knee pain in runners, accounting for around 10% of all running-related in

All information in this blog is supported by peer-reviewed research. There is currently no dedicated NICE guideline for this condition, so current evidence is used throughout. Reference numbers appear throughout, with the full list at the bottom of the page. What Is Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome? Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), commonly known as runner's knee, is knee pain resulting from problems between the kneecap (patella) and the thigh bone (femur), where the two surf

All information in this blog is supported by NICE guidance and peer-reviewed research. Reference numbers appear throughout, with the full list at the bottom of the page. Knee Pain Can Come From Several Different Places The knee is a genuinely complex joint, and pain here can arise from several distinct structures, the kneecap and its tracking, the cartilage cushioning the joint, the ligaments providing stability, or the surrounding tendons and soft tissue. Where exactly your

All information in this blog is supported by peer-reviewed research. There is currently no dedicated NICE guideline for this condition, so current evidence is used throughout. Reference numbers appear throughout, with the full list at the bottom of the page. What Is a Hip Flexor Strain? A hip flexor strain is an injury to one of the muscles responsible for lifting the leg toward the body, most commonly the iliopsoas (the primary, deep hip flexor) or the rectus femoris (the fr

All information in this blog is supported by peer-reviewed research, including a December 2025 international multispecialty consensus guideline. There is currently no dedicated NICE guideline for this condition, so current evidence is used throughout. Reference numbers appear throughout, with the full list at the bottom of the page. What Is Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction? The sacroiliac joints (SIJ) connect the base of the spine to the pelvis on either side, and dysfunction her

All information in this blog is supported by peer-reviewed research. There is currently no dedicated NICE guideline for this condition, so current evidence is used throughout. Reference numbers appear throughout, with the full list at the bottom of the page. What Is Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome? Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) is the modern, accurate term for what was historically called "trochanteric bursitis." This older label turns out to be largely mislead

All information in this blog is supported by NICE guidance and a major 2025 clinical practice guideline, alongside peer-reviewed research. Reference numbers appear throughout, with the full list at the bottom of the page. What Is Hip Osteoarthritis? Hip osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition affecting the hip, and is genuinely one of the most common sources of lower limb pain and functional decline seen in musculoskeletal practice. ¹ It involves a combination of gen

All information in this blog is supported by NICE guidance and peer-reviewed research. Reference numbers appear throughout, with the full list at the bottom of the page. Hip Pain Can Come From Several Different Places Hip pain is genuinely common, but it isn't a single condition, it can arise from several distinct structures within and around the hip joint, each with a different cause, pattern, and treatment approach. Working out exactly where your pain is coming from is the

All information in this blog is supported by NICE guidance and peer-reviewed research. Reference numbers appear throughout, with the full list at the bottom of the page. What Is a Wrist Sprain? A sprain is a stretch or tear of a ligament, the strong band of tissue connecting one bone to another. ¹ Sprains most commonly occur in the ankles, knees, wrists, and thumbs, and a sprained wrist is a particularly common injury, typically resulting from a fall onto an outstretched hand

All information in this blog is supported by UK Health and Safety Executive guidance and peer-reviewed research. Reference numbers appear throughout, with the full list at the bottom of the page. What Is Repetitive Strain Injury? Repetitive strain injury, or RSI, is an injury to part of the musculoskeletal or nervous system caused by repetitive use, vibration, compression, or long periods spent in a fixed position. ¹ It's worth understanding from the outset that RSI is not a

All information in this blog is supported by peer-reviewed research. Reference numbers appear throughout, with the full list at the bottom of the page. What Is De Quervain's Tenosynovitis? De Quervain's tenosynovitis is a common cause of pain on the thumb side of the wrist. It's caused by friction of two tendons, those of abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis, as they pass through a narrow tunnel at the wrist called the first dorsal compartment, against a thic

All information in this blog is supported by NICE guidance and peer-reviewed research. Reference numbers appear throughout, with the full list at the bottom of the page. What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common entrapment neuropathy of the upper extremity, caused by compression of the median nerve as it passes through a narrow passage in the wrist called the carpal tunnel. ¹ It causes pain, numbness, tingling, and functional impairment of the

All information in this blog is supported by NICE guidance and peer-reviewed research. Reference numbers appear throughout, with the full list at the bottom of the page. What Is Elbow Osteoarthritis? Elbow osteoarthritis is far less common than osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, but it is a genuine cause of elbow pain and stiffness worth understanding properly. NICE Guideline NG226, Osteoarthritis in over 16s: diagnosis and management, sets out the general principles of osteo

All information in this blog is supported by NICE guidance and peer-reviewed research. Reference numbers appear throughout, with the full list at the bottom of the page. What Is Golfer's Elbow? Golfer's elbow, medically known as medial epicondylitis, is the inner-elbow counterpart to tennis elbow. It manifests as chronic tendinosis of the wrist flexor and pronator muscles attaching to the medial epicondyle, the bony bump on the inner side of the elbow, and typically arises fr

All information in this blog is supported by NICE guidance and peer-reviewed research. Reference numbers appear throughout, with the full list at the bottom of the page. What Is Tennis Elbow? Tennis elbow, medically known as lateral epicondylitis, is one of the most common causes of elbow pain we see. It describes an overuse injury caused by eccentric overload of the common extensor tendon at its origin on the outer elbow, specifically affecting the extensor carpi radialis br

All information in this blog is supported by NHS clinical guidance and peer-reviewed research. There is currently no dedicated NICE guideline for this condition, but NHS clinical guidance and current evidence are used throughout. Reference numbers appear throughout, with the full list at the bottom of the page. What Is Thoracic Outlet Syndrome? Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is where nerves or blood vessels near the top of the ribs get squashed, usually affecting one arm and

All information in this blog is supported by peer-reviewed research. Reference numbers appear throughout, with the full list at the bottom of the page. This blog ties closely into our rotator cuff-related shoulder pain blog, well worth reading alongside this one for the fuller picture. You've Been Told You Have "Shoulder Impingement" This is genuinely one of the most common diagnoses given for shoulder pain, and if it's what you've been told, you're far from alone. The term d

All information in this blog is supported by peer-reviewed research, including a major 2025 clinical practice guideline. Reference numbers appear throughout, with the full list at the bottom of the page. A Shift in How Shoulder Pain Is Understood If you've previously been told you have "shoulder impingement," it's worth knowing that this terminology, and the thinking behind it, has genuinely moved on. The classic impingement model, proposed in the 1970s, suggested pain was ca

All information in this blog is supported by peer-reviewed research. Reference numbers appear throughout, with the full list at the bottom of the page. What Is Biceps Tendinopathy? Biceps tendinopathy refers to pain and dysfunction affecting the long head of the biceps tendon, the part of the biceps muscle that runs up through the front of the shoulder and attaches deep inside the joint. It's a common cause of anterior shoulder pain, often felt as a deep ache at the front of