Tendonitis

Over-stressing a tendon from repeated and excessive activity, placing too great a load on a joint as when lifting a heavy object abruptly, or being involved in a traumatic accident can cause tendonitis. In fact, any mechanism that causes tendon fibers to tear such as forceful stretching or a direct blow to the tendon will result in the onset of a tendonitis. The swelling that occurs in and around these tears in the tendon will cause the painful inflammation associated with this condition.

Sports activities are probably responsible for most of the reported cases of tendonitis. The good news is that people who keep themselves physically fit usually also heal well. The only real obstacle to a successful recovery is keeping the athlete away from the activities that caused the condition long enough for the healing process to be adequately completed. For tendonitis conditions, this is usually a period of six to eight weeks. A tendonitis suffer who wants to return to full activity must always be careful not to become to active too early, even if the pain has vanished.

Your Doctor of Chiropractic can diagnose and treat this condition by use of joint manipulation, therapies to reduce tendon inflammation, improve circulation, and provide nutritional supplements and a healthy diet to aid in the healing process. Certain braces or tapping may also be applied to help reduce the pain. A brace is especially helpful in the acute phase to minimize irritation and during the healing process to support the joint and to prevent overuse when more regular activities are resumed.

When activity is resumed, anyone who suffers from tendonitis is wise to proceed slowly. It is best to test the ability of the joint to resume the activity for only a short period of time. It is also wise to wear a brace and begin with a minimized stress to the joint. If any irritation returns, an assessment will need to be made as to weather or not the activity can be modified such as changing the way the activity is performed. With the proper care and treatment, the pain of tendonitis can be reduced, managed, and even eliminated.

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DISCLAIMER: Articles posted on this site are for informational purposes only. Articles are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment. Users of this site should consult with their doctors before making any decisions regarding their health care. 

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