Kiertopaine

Kiertopaine is a clinical term used in Finnish medical literature to describe pain that is elicited or worsened by rotational movements around a joint or axis. The term does not denote a single disease; rather it characterizes a symptom pattern that may arise from several underlying conditions affecting joints, cartilage, nerves, or surrounding tissues.

Causes of kiertopaine include degenerative changes in facet joints or other joint structures that become irritated during rotation, such as in the spine or hip. It can also occur with soft tissue injuries that limit movement or cause impingement during rotation, such as rotator cuff pathology in the shoulder or meniscal tears in the knee. Neurological or discogenic factors may contribute when axial rotation stretches or compresses neural elements. Repetitive or high-load rotational tasks, trauma, or inflammatory conditions can amplify the symptom.

Mechanisms typically involve mechanical stress on articular surfaces or soft tissues during turning or twisting, combined with local inflammation or altered neuromuscular control. Pain may be localized to a joint region or referred to surrounding areas depending on the involved structures. In some cases, exact cause remains unclear after initial evaluation, requiring further imaging or diagnostic interventions to distinguish between joint, soft tissue, and nerve-related origins.

Diagnosis relies on a careful patient history and targeted physical examination that assesses pain provocation with active and passive rotation, alongside standard orthopedic or neurosurgical tests. Imaging such as ultrasound, MRI, or CT may identify structural contributors. In uncertain cases, diagnostic injections with anesthetic agents can help localize the source of kiertopaine.

Treatment focuses on addressing the underlying cause and may include activity modification, physical therapy to improve joint stability and rotational mechanics, analgesics or anti-inflammatory medications, and, when appropriate, injections or surgical intervention for specific structural problems. Prognosis varies with the underlying condition and response to rehabilitation. The term remains primarily used in Finnish clinical contexts and is often described in relation to other well-defined orthopedic or neuromuscular syndromes.