Spondylolysis is a stress fracture in a small bridge of bone at the back of a vertebra (the pars), most often at the bottom of the spine. Spondylolisthesis is when one vertebra slips forward on the one below, which can follow spondylolysis or develop with age-related changes. Many people with…

A bunion (hallux valgus) is when the big toe angles towards the smaller toes, creating a bony bump on the inner side of the foot at the base of the big toe. Many bunions cause few problems, but some lead to pain, rubbing and difficulty finding comfortable shoes. Non-surgical care can ease…

Facet joint pain is back pain thought to come from the small joints at the back of the spine, and lumbar spondylosis is the general term for age-related changes in the lower spine. These changes are very common and often cause no pain at all. When they are painful, the approach is usually the…

Morton's neuroma is a painful thickening around a nerve between the long bones of the foot, most often between the third and fourth toes. It causes burning, shooting or tingling pain in the ball of the foot, or a feeling of walking on a pebble. Wider footwear, insoles and padding are usually…

Chronic ankle instability is when an ankle keeps giving way, feels wobbly or is sprained repeatedly after an earlier sprain. It is linked to changes in balance, strength, joint position sense and sometimes ligament looseness. Structured balance and strengthening exercise is the main…

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces in the lower spine where the nerves run, usually caused by age-related changes. It typically causes pain, heaviness or tingling in the buttocks and legs when standing or walking, which eases when sitting or bending forward. This pattern is…

An ankle sprain is an injury to the ligaments that support the ankle, most often on the outer side when the foot rolls inwards. It causes pain, swelling and bruising, and can make walking difficult for a while. Most sprains recover well with early movement, a support such as a brace or tape, and…

A slipped disc, or herniated disc, is when part of the soft inner material of a spinal disc pushes out through its tougher outer layer. In the lower back this can irritate a nearby nerve and cause sciatica. Discs do not actually 'slip', and many herniations shrink on their own over time.

Shoulder instability is when the ball of the upper arm moves too far out of its socket, either fully (a dislocation) or partly (a subluxation). It can follow an injury, or develop gradually without one, sometimes in people with very flexible joints. Rehabilitation is central to recovery, and…

A rotator cuff tear is a split or tear in one or more of the four tendons that help lift and turn the arm. Many tears develop slowly with age and some cause no symptoms at all. When they do cause pain or weakness, exercise-based rehabilitation is often the first step, and surgery is an option…

Frozen shoulder is a condition where the capsule around the shoulder joint becomes inflamed, thickened and tight, causing pain and a marked loss of movement. It often starts with a painful phase and is followed by a stiff phase. Many people improve over time, but recovery can take a long while…

Rotator cuff related shoulder pain is pain felt on the outside of the upper arm, usually when lifting the arm, that comes from the rotator cuff tendons and the tissues around them. It used to be called impingement. It is the most common cause of shoulder pain, and most people improve with…

Knee osteoarthritis is a common long-term condition where the joint's cartilage, bone and surrounding tissues change, causing pain and stiffness, mainly with activity. It is not simply 'wear and tear', and it does not always get worse. NICE guidance recommends exercise, weight management where…

Sciatica is pain that travels from the lower back or buttock down the leg, often below the knee, caused by irritation of a nerve root in the lower spine. It is most often linked to a bulging or herniated disc. Many people improve over weeks to months without surgery, but some symptoms need…

Non-specific low back pain is pain between the bottom of the ribs and the top of the legs that does not come from one clear, identifiable cause such as a fracture, infection or tumour. It is the most common type of back pain. Most people improve within a few weeks, although it can come back, and…

High hamstring tendinopathy is pain and reduced function in the hamstring tendons where they attach to the sitting bone at the base of the buttock. It typically causes deep buttock pain with sitting, running and bending forwards. Research is limited, but education and progressive strengthening…

An osteoporotic spinal fracture happens when a weakened vertebra (spinal bone) squashes down, often after little or no injury. It can cause sudden back pain, height loss or a more curved spine, though some fractures cause few symptoms. Diagnosis and bone treatment come from your GP or…

Sacroiliac joint pain is pain coming from the joints that connect the base of the spine to the pelvis, usually felt low in the back or buttock on one side. It is one cause of low back pain and is linked with pregnancy, falls and changes in walking. Care usually follows NICE low back pain…

Thoracic hyperkyphosis is a more rounded upper back than usual, where the natural forward curve of the thoracic spine is increased. It can be postural and flexible, structural as in Scheuermann's disease in teenagers, or develop with age and bone changes. Many people have few symptoms, but it…

Adductor-related groin pain is pain at the inner groin where the adductor (inner thigh) muscles attach to the pubic bone, and it is the most common type of groin pain in sport. It is typical in football and other sports with kicking, sprinting and changes of direction. Evidence suggests an…