Sports and other soft tissue injuries, tendinitis, bursitis, and occupation-related syndromes

This review highlights three areas: plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The diagnosis and treatment of plantar fasciitis are reviewed; nonsurgical treatments remain the mainstay of management. Several recent articles support the use of night splints. Some novel treatments recently investigated, including low intensity laser irradiation and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, are reviewed, as well as the effectiveness of steroid injection. Novel treatments for Achilles tendinitis are also reviewed, including the use of injection therapy and the treatment approach of one author for the management of Achilles tendon rupture. Nonsurgical techniques in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, such as yoga, ultrasound, noninvasive laser neurolysis, manipulation, nerve and tendon gliding exercises, and medications, are reviewed. Prednisolone was shown to be effective in the treatment of mild to moderate disease and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were found to be ineffective.