HOW TO TREAT TENDONITIS SUCCESSFULLY?

Both professional and weekend athletes are often at risk of being injured, no matter how prepared they are. Injuries may vary from mild to severe but one of the most common injuries to affect different body segments is tendonitis.

Tendonitis often comes as a result of repetitive movements, which are present at sports such as running, swimming, tennis, golf, bowling, baseball, and others. It can be extremely painful, which is why patients may not be able to continue with their usual activities.

Still, there are many ways to recover from it. Bu the most effective treatments involve acupuncture for tendonitis, dry needling therapies, active release techniques, and functional movement training that help to relieve pain and to maximize sports performance.

WHAT IS TENDONITIS?

Tendonitis represents inflammation or irritation of a tendon, which consists of the thick fibrous cords that attach muscle to bone. Such damage often causes pain and tenderness outside a joint.

It can occur in any of your tendons, but it’s most common around your shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, and heels. Most prominent examples include:

  • Achilles tendonitis affects the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. Runners and middle-aged people that play sports only during the weekends are more prone to this condition.
  • Bicep tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendons that connect the bicep muscle to the shoulder and the elbow. It’s often caused by repetitive movements or overuse, and it’s prevalent at sports such as softball, baseball, tennis, or swimming.
  • Calcific tendonitis causes the formation of the very small calcium deposit within the tendons of the rotator cuff, and it’s quite common at people at least 30-40 years old that have a certain type of diabetes.
  • Elbow tendonitis is among the most common types of tendon injuries, and it refers to the inflammation that’s present in the tendons and connective tissue at the elbow. Golf and tennis players are often affected by it, as well as those that frequently use elbows by rotating the forearm muscle tendons.
  • Extensor tendonitis is caused by the inflammation of the extensor tendons that run along the top of the foot. It’s typical for runners who wear inappropriate running shoes or tend to lace them too tight.

  • Patellar tendonitis is a condition that occurs due to the injury of the patellar tendon, which helps the muscles extend the knee. It’s common in basketball and volleyball players, who often jump. It’s also known as “knee tendonitis” or a “jumper’s knee.”
  • Peroneal tendonitis is a condition that affects the foot and the ankle. It’s common at athletes that play sports, which involve repetitive ankle motions, primarily due to a sudden increase in training, improper training techniques, or inadequate footwear.
  • Posterior tibial tendonitis comes as a result of a dysfunction of one of the tendons found on the inner side of the ankle. It usually prevents people from standing on their toes on the affected side, and it’s more common in women over 40 years of age. It’s often caused by diabetes, obesity, or hypertension.
  • Shoulder tendonitis is also known as “rotator cuff tendonitis,” and it comes as a result of swelling of the tissues that connect the muscles and bones in the shoulder.
  • Wrist tendonitis occurs due to swelling of the tissues that connect muscle to bone in the wrist, which is usually caused by repetitive hand-intensive activities.

Most of the mentioned conditions are resolved within a couple of weeks or months, but if tendonitis symptoms don’t cease even after that, it might imply chronic tendonitis.

It’s mostly self-diagnosed and often involves pain, tenderness, and mild swelling. Although it might not seem severe, tendonitis may cause a lot of complications if not treated adequately and on time.

If you ignore the signs of the injury that last for several weeks or months, you are at risk of developing a more severe condition that may require surgery. Such a condition may involve degenerative changes in the tendon and impact the growth of abnormal blood vessels.