Tendonitis can be caused by severe injury but more often it is caused by repetitive minor injuries to the affected area. In certain conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis, thyroid disease or diabetes, tendonitis can occur without any trauma.
TENDONITIS
Tendon injury can happen anywhere in the body.
Tendon injuries can happen in three areas:
- Where the tendon joins the muscle
- mid-tendon
- tendon insertion into the bone
Mid tendon injuries are caused by repetitive trauma by overtraining.
Tough fibers that connect muscle to bone are called tendons. Injuries of tendons generally occur near the joint. The most common joints are the elbow, shoulder, ankle and knee. I usually happens because of overloading of the tendon over time but seems to happen quickly.
Gradual wear and tear and over use and aging are the main reasons for tendon injury. Tendon injury happens mainly in people who make repetitive motions in their jobs or daily activities.
The tendon begins to become stressed when the load being applied is too great. Tendons are designed to endure stress and repetition, however, sometimes it becomes too much and an injury results.
Tendon injury happens due to small tears with in the tendon. These areas become inflamed and swell. Tendons can heal quickly with proper early treatment.
Without proper treatment if the stress is continuously applied to the tendon, tears cannot repair properly , this will result in tendonitis.
- Increased pain and stiffness when you get up in the morning or at night.
- If inflammation is present the area may be red, warm tender and swollen.
- When you use the tendon there may be a crunching feeling or sound during use.
- Symptoms of tendon injury can be a lot like symptoms of bursitis.
Inability of tendons to adapt quickly causes four phases of injury. There are four phases of tendon injury.
- Reactive Tendinopathy
- Tissues adapt normally
- Normal recovery time
- Tendon Disrepair
- Injury rate > Repair rate
- Tissue is attempting to heal
- Proper treatment is important at this point of the healing process to avoid cell death (phase 3)
- Degenerative Tendinopathy
- Death of cells occur
- Tendon cells are giving up, tissues are not healing
- Tendon Tear or Rupture
- Tissue completely breaks down
- Function is lost
- Healing is very poor
- Surgery is usually the only option.
It is important to have your doctor diagnose the injury and its phase to determine the proper treatment. Certain therapeutic modalities and exercises are part of the customized treatment plan designed by your sport therapist in conjunction with your doctors diagnosis
Diagnosis of a tendon injury is performed by your doctor. Your doctor will ask about past injuries, your health, your exercise routine. If your symptoms are severe additional tests may be performed such as an MRI or ultrasound.
In most cases, you can start treating a tendon injury at home. To get the best results, start these steps right away:
- Avoid painful activity and rest the area.
- Apply ice for 20 minutes at a time, 2 times an hour, for the first 72 hours. Keep icing as long as you are getting pain relief.
- To prevent stiffness, stretch the area and use gentle range of motion exercises.
- Begin a strengthening program with the advice of your sport therapist.
A tendon injury can take weeks or months to heal. Follow your treatment plan, continue your exercises. Using the tendon too soon can cause damage to the tendon.
Prevention from re injury of a tendon:
Change your activities
- If the problem happened because of exercise, consult with a coach or sport therapist on your technique.
- Perform regular eccentric style exercises.
- Pay attention to the amount of weight of activity you are putting the healing tendon under. Discuss this with your coach or sport therapist.
- Warm up and stretch muscles every time before exercise and cool down after exercising.
Definition:
Tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon, most commonly from overuse but also from infection or rheumatic disease.