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HEALTH: TENDONITIS (TENDON INFLAMMATION) TREATMENT & PREVENTION Arthritis>>
What is Tendonitis (tendinitis)?
Tendonitis (also known as tendinitis) is inflammation, irritation, and
swelling of a tendon, which is the fibrous structure that joins muscle
to bone. In many cases, tendinosis (tendon degeneration) is also
present. Tendon is a cord of tough, fibrous connective tissue that
attach muscles to bones. Tendons are found throughout the human
body.
If the normal smooth gliding motion of a tendon is impaired the tendon
will become inflamed and tendonitis will start to occur, and occasionally, restricted movement of the muscle attached to the affected tendon. Tendonitis (tendinitis), if
it's caught early, can be easily treated and cured.
Tendonitis (tendinitis), which causes pain and tenderness just outside a joint,
can occur in any of your body's tendons. Tendonitis is common around
your shoulders, elbows, wrists and heels. If tendonitis is severe and leads to the rupture of a tendon, you may
need surgical repair. Tendonitis can cause permanent damage to the tendon. The natural tendency to favor the painful area also can lead to stiffness. But many times, rest and medications to reduce
the pain and inflammation of tendonitis may be the only treatments you
need. You can also take preventive measures to reduce your chance of
developing tendonitis.
A vague discomfort at the age 30, if overuse is continued for years, this can lead to a loss of flexibility due to scarring of the tissues. Sometimes the discomfort of tendonitis disappears within a matter of weeks, especially if you rest the affected area. In elderly people and those who continued to use the affected area, tendonitis often heals more slowly and usually progresses to a chronic health condition.
Health: General Causes of Tendonitis (tendinitis)
Tendonitis (tendinitis) can occur as a result of injury, overuse, or with aging as the tendon loses elasticity. It can also be seen in persons with body-wide (systemic) diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes.
Tendonitis can occur in any tendon, but some commonly affected areas are:
- Elbow
- Foot/Heel (Achilles tendinitis)
- Shoulder
- Wrist
- Strained tendon through repetitive motion
You have a greater health risk of developing tendonitis if you perform excessive repetitive motions of your arms or legs. Strain through repetitive motion is the most common cause of tendonitis; such as repetition related work on production lines or sports on different levels. For instance, professional baseball players, swimmers, tennis players and golfers are susceptible to tendonitis in their shoulders, arms and elbows. Basketball players, runners and dancers are more prone to tendon inflammation in their legs and feet.
- Over strain the tendon without proper preparation
Over straining a tendon is the major cause of tendonitis among athletes and bodybuilders. Tendonitis (tendinitis) developes when an individual puts the tendon under too much strain without warming up properly. Tendonitis can be prevented by using proper training techniques and preparation exercise.
- Age related changes in tendons
The incidence of tendonitis increases with age as muscles and tendons lose some of their elasticity. Which means the joint is no longer as free to move and flexibility is reduced. As individuals aged, they are more prone to develop tendonitis. The cause of tendonitis from age is still not fully understood.
- Injury-related tendonitis
It is not uncommon for tendonitis to develop as a result of another tendon or joint injury; such as a rotator cuff injury, or after having knee surgery. In such cases tendonitis usually develops because the injury has not completely healed. Getting sufficient rest for the joint to completely recover from an injury, can prevent tendonitis.
- Other health conditions
In some rare cases diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes may cause tendonitis to develope, as unusual strain is placed on a tendon.
- Thermal injury to the tendon
Generally thermal injury is a very uncommon cause of tendonitis. Thermal injury to a tendon is often experienced by mountain climbers, and hikers. The hands, wrists, ankles and feet in most cases are affected.
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Also see: ARTHRITIS OSTEOARTHRITIS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS GOUT BURSITIS
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Health: Symptoms of Tendonitis (tendinitis)
Symptoms of tendonitis (tendinitis) that are produced near a joint aggravated by movement include the following:
- Pain is usually worse at night and in the morning
- Pain and tenderness along a tendon, usually near a joint
- Pain that is worse with movement or activity
- Mild swelling, in some cases
- Burning sensation around the affect area
- Affected area is swollen, red, warm or lumpy
Tendonitis (tendinitis) in various locations in your body produces these specific types of pain:
- Tennis elbow. This type causes pain on the outer side of your forearm near your elbow when you rotate your forearm or grip an object. Golfer's elbow causes pain on the inner part of your elbow.
- Achilles tendonitis. This form causes pain just above your heel.
- Adductor tendonitis. This type leads to pain in your groin.
- Patellar tendonitis. In this type, you experience pain just below your kneecap.
- Rotator cuff tendonitis. This tendonitis leads to shoulder pain.
If the sheath of tissue that surrounds the tendon becomes scarred and
narrowed in small joints, such as the finger, it may cause the tendon
to lock in one position, such as occurs in the condition called trigger
finger. The pain of tendonitis is usually worse with activities that
use the muscle that is attached to the involved tendon.
Health: Diagnosis and Tests of Tendonitis (tendinitis)
The health care provider will perform a physical exam and look for signs of pain and tenderness when the muscle attached to the tendon is used against resistance. There are specific tests for specific tendons.
The tendon can be inflamed and the overlying skin may be warm and red.
Your doctor may suspect you have tendinitis after observing the signs and symptoms of the condition or discussing them with you. But to make a diagnosis of tendonitis, your doctor will most likely want to review your medical history and conduct a thorough physical examination.
Imaging tests
An X-ray often isn't helpful in diagnosing tendonitis (tendinitis) because tendons
generally aren't visible in these images. Still, your doctor may order
an X-ray if he or she wants to rule out a more serious condition
involving the bone. Although rarely necessary, an imaging test known as
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) might be ordered to reveal any
weakening or tearing of the tendon or changes in the tendon sheath or
covering.
Your doctor may also recommend blood tests if he or she suspects that a
condition such as rheumatoid arthritis may be an underlying cause of
your tendonitis.
Health: Treatment of Tendonitis (tendinitis)
The goals of tendonitis treatment are to relieve your pain and reduce inflammation. Often, home treatment — which includes rest, ice and over-the-counter pain relievers — may be all that you need. The key to successful tendonitis treatment is patience. In almost 90% of recurring tendonitis cases the individual did not give the tendon sufficient time to recover before returning to the activity that caused the pain initially. If you do not give the tendon enough time to recover, tendonitis will return
Other treatments for tendonitis (tendinitis) include:
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Corticosteroid injections or topical applications. Sometimes your doctor may inject a corticosteroid medication around a tendon to relieve tendonitis. Injections of cortisone reduce inflammation and can help ease pain.
However, there are potential side effects. For example, repeated injections may weaken a tendon, increasing your health risk of rupturing the tendon. Also, corticosteroid medications should never be directly injected into the tendon itself because this can contribute to tendon rupture. As an alternative to an injection, a corticosteroid solution can be topically applied to the painful region and drawn in through your skin using a gentle electric current via a process called iontophoresis. Steroid injections into the tendon sheath can also be very useful in controlling pain and allowing physical therapy to start.
- Strengthening exercises and physical therapy. People with tendonitis and tendinosis may also benefit from a program of specific exercise designed to strengthen the force-absorbing capability of the muscle-tendon unit. Physical therapy that stretches and strengthens the muscle and tendon is essential. This can restore the tendon's ability to function properly, improve healing, and prevent future injury.
- Massage therapy is becoming a very popular way to ease the pain of tendonits and aid the tendons in recovery. If possible, choose a masseuse that has qualifications or experience with tendonitis. Be sure to inform the masseuse of your condition before commencing your massage.
- Surgery. Depending on the degree and type of tendon tear, you may benefit from a surgical procedure that can improve tendon health. In certain people, surgeons can repair full-thickness tendon tears to reduce pain and restore function. Rarely, surgery is needed to physically remove the inflammatory tissue from around the tendon.
- Ultrasound treatment is used by doctors and physicians to break down scar tissue around the tendon. Ultrasound uses sound waves that vibrate at a very high level to increase circulation and soften the affected area. Ultrasound can also be used as phonophoresis to help topical pain and nutrient solutions reach further down into the tissues.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can also reduce both pain and inflammation.
- Rest or immobilization of the affected tendons is helpful for recovery. This may be achieved using a splint or a removable brace. The application of heat or cold to the affected area can help.
Support braces are often used in tendonitis treatment and prevention. The role of the brace is to support the affected area by limiting movement and supporting the tendon. Many tendonitis sufferers use braces as part of rehabilitation of joints. Common braces include knee, wrist, ankle, elbow, neck and heel. Braces are designed to be used in conjunction with rest and rehabilitation of the tendon.
Health: Prevention of Tendonitis (tendinitis)
Tendonitis (tendinitis) prevention is simple, much easier than treatment. To reduce your chance of developing tendonitis, follow these suggestions:
- Ease up. Avoid activities that place excessive stress on your tendons, especially for prolonged periods. If you notice pain during a particular exercise, stop and rest.
- Choose footwear designed and suitable for the activity. This tendonitis prevention technique only applies to tendinitis of the Achilles, ankle and kness. It's very important to choose the correct footwear for the activitiy.
- Mix it up. If one exercise or activity causes you a particular, persistent pain, try something else. Cross-training can help you mix up an impact-loading exercise, such as running, with lower impact exercise, such as biking or swimming.
- Improve your technique. If your technique in an activity or exercise is flawed, you could be setting yourself up for problems with your tendons. Consider taking lessons or getting professional instructions when starting a new sport or using exercise equipment.
- Stretch. After warming up and again after you exercise, take time to stretch in order to maximize the range of motion of your joints. This can help to minimize repetitive microtrauma on tight tissues.
- Use proper workplace ergonomics. At your workplace, get a proper ergonomic assessment. Fitting your work space to your body is essential to ensure that no tendons are continually stressed or overloaded.
- Take frequent rest breaks. A good tendonitis prevention measure to take if you 're at risk of developing tendonitis in your workplace is to take frequent rest breaks. Rest breaks give your tendons a rest from repeated straining. Frequent rest breaks are recommended for computer operators, factory production line workers, manual laborers and any other job that requires repeated joint movements.
- Prepare your muscles to play. Strengthening muscles used in your activity or sport can help them better withstand stress and load.
- Stay in good shape. Staying in good shape is probably the best tendonitis prevention technique. Regular exercise (with the proper warm-ups and stretching of course) is recommended for individuals of any age. Regular exercise is not only good for your muscles and tendons but is an essential part of living a healthy life.
To avoid a recurrence of tendonitis, warm up before exercising and cool
down afterward. Strengthening exercises also may help prevent further
episodes of tendonitis (tendinitis).
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Sources: NIH News In Health/National Institutes of Health/National Library of Medicine/Dept of Health and Human Services_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
