ExRx.net

I did a rant on this awhile ago. People that come onto a forum, and try to diagnose themselves, with people they don't know, is insane. Go to a qualified ohysician/therapist, or whatever is needed. Sure, some people have had knee or whatever problems, but unless you know EXACTLY what is going on, you aren't going to get a good diagnosis, or recommendations for rehabing it. I'm getting ready to pull the plug on those types of forum entries.
Tim

I think general advice about caring for minor problems is OK, and cautions about certain lifts or workout practices is good, too. But I think having a member (as we have had in this thread), whether a professional or not, offering specific diagnoses, is not appropriate. If Googling "inner elbow pain" (or whatever) were a suitable diagnostic approach, we could considerably shorten the med school curriculum!

How about a sticky with some general advice about strains and sprains, and general cautions. Then when someone posts a "it hurts right here when I drink tea" an admin posts "see the sticky--this forum does not offer diagnosis or treatment of injuries" and locks the thread?

Here here!

Just a side note, legislation where I'm from states that any information obtained via google/yahoo/other commonly used search engine, whether it hits a legitimate medical site or a scientifically researched, peer reviewed article, will not stand up in court due to the nature of google/yahoo/other commonly used search engines and the internet. There are ways around this obviously, but in escence even real doctors aren't really supposed to use internet search engines to aide in making a diagnosis! And same should go for self diagnosis, yes get some theories but have them confirmed by a professional before applying treatment!

John

Doc, you have a PM from me
Tim

A Diagnosis is a big grey area. For example, 'Impingement Syndrome' as a diagnosis is just a joke, in my opinion. Same with 'runners knee' and things like that. "Piriformis Syndrome" and 'patella tracking disorders' or what ever they call them. J ust makes you treat them like conditions such as Asthma - deal with it.

Shirley Sahrmann, a very well respected physical therapist, makes the diagnosis based on the movement that causes pain. For example, if you have lower back pain which hurts when you round/flex, then you have Lumbar Flexion Syndrome (did i just make a diagnosis? ). This is actually a great system of classificatin because there's no ifs or buts with the diagnosis, and then treatments can be monitored, tracked, and organised much better than they previously have been.

A diagnosis doesn't help you (the lifter) much. You're as well calling it 'sore knee syndrome'. Or something. Specialists use it to help determine the best course of treatment. People get far too hung up on getting a specific diagnosis. Just find what's weak, and stop doing what hurts. If you're not going to find someone to tell you what's weak, then you better start studying, so you can find out for yourself.

I actually never recommend that people with typical weightroom aches and pains go to a GP. I actually advise against it.Nothing against GP's, I just don't think it's their thing. And, the typically accepted model of dealing with such issues is completely symptom based, and that doesn't help me get back to my previous PB Squat, for example. Maybe you have a far superior health system across the pond or something. Over here though, in terms of Physiotherapy, we're still stuck in the 80's.

I do believe that EVERY lifter should see a GOOD manual therapist every 3-6 months. SOunds stupid saying that for pain free people, but, onlyuntil you realise you do the same with your car (regular service) which can be replaced (you're body can't).

Guess what i'm saying is, is that I see your point. But I disagree that if someone goes out and get's a 'Diagnosis', then everything will work out. In my opinion there's nothing wrong with helping people take ownership of their problems - teaching them about balanced training programs, pointing them in the direction of good information, and recommending that they seek out a specialist to manually check things over.

KPj