Are you sitting in the stands watching the game due to pain? Our lifestyles of wanting to work and play full out are sometimes hampered due to the wear and tear on our bodies. One such repetitive injury suffered most often is Tendonitis.
What is Tendonitis?
Our tendons are made of strong, ropy fibers of collagen that form the connective tissue attaching our muscles to our bones. Inflammation of the tendons or Tendonitis tends to occur if a tendon rubs over bone continually especially after a period of disuse. This is an inflammation of the tendons that can affect any of the body’s tendons most commonly affects those in the arms, shoulders, and legs.
People who practice repetitive motions—usually involving either a job or a sport—are at higher risk of developing Tendonitis especially if they only exercise hard on the weekends. Other activities that commonly cause this inflammation include tennis, golf, skiing, raking, gardening, painting, shoveling and carpentry work.
Please remember physical conditions can contribute to Tendonitis as well. These include a misplaced bone or joint, Gout, Arthritis, Thyroid Disorders and reactions to certain medications.
Treatment for Tendonitis
The most common treatment for Tendonitis is rest and ice. Rest the affected tendon while you give it time to recover. Depending on exactly where the problem is, you may need to stop playing any sport that involves the painful area, reduce the amount of typing you do, etc. Using some type of support, such as an ACE bandage, can help provide added stability and keep the area immobile while the tendon heals.
Use an ice pack or cold compress on the area to help reduce pain and swelling 2 or 3 times a day for 10-20 minutes each. A bag of frozen peas works well for this. Be sure not to put the ice pack directly on your skin. Wrap it in a damp washcloth or towel first.
Our office offers a variety of solutions to help heal your tendonitis quickly and to help restore the range of motion with special exercise programs that stretch and strengthen the tendon and supporting muscles that will produce better long-term efficacy.
We Can Help!
Our amazing team looks forward to helping you get back into the game. Contact us today!
For Your Health,
Dr. Ted Smith and