Disease, Illness and Condition Library
Tendinitis
Most golfers, tennis players and baseball players have had a run
in with tendinitis at one point or another. While certainly not life
threatening this condition can be very painful, slow to heal, and make
participating your given sport not very enjoyable. So what is tendinitis
and are there any precautions that can be taken to avoid it?
Tendinitis is the inflammation of the tendon. Tendons are cords of
fibrous tissue that connect muscles to bones. They are extremely
strong and flexible, but they cannot stretch. Tendons are composed
primarily of bundles of collagen, a protein that is a key constituent of
all the connective tissues of the body.
Tendinitis can occur anywhere a tendon joins muscle to the bone.
The tendons at the greatest risk to become inflamed include the Achilles
tendon, located at the back of the ankle, and tendons in the knee, elbow,
and rotator cuff, which stabilizes the shoulder. The inflammation is usually
caused by overexertion in sports or other physical activity, and can be acute
or become a chronic problem from long term overuse. If too much stress is
placed on a tendon, it can become inflamed and swell, causing pain, soreness,
tenderness, and impaired motion of the muscle attached to the affected tendon.
Tennis elbow, one common type of tendinitis, is caused by straining the tendon
on the outside of the elbow; golfer’s elbow on the other hand, is caused by
straining the tendon on the inside of the elbow. Painful arc syndrome results
from injury to the tendons or the rotator cuff, causing pain in the shoulder
when you raise your arm above a certain position. Similar problems include
repetitive-stress- induced tendinitis of the forearms and/or wrist, which haunts
many people who work on computer keyboards and in light assembly jobs. In
chronic tendinitis, calcium deposits can occur within tendinous tissue, causing
increased pain and decreased range of motion.
Conventional Treatment Tips
* Rest - Determine which activity may have actually caused your tendinitis
and layoff for a while. Allow the healing process to do its magic and before
long you will be as good as new.
* Ice – Cold can be very beneficial in minimizing the swelling and inflammation.
Be sure to cover the area with a towel first.
* Compression – Wrap the area in an elastic bandage or strips of cloth,
firmly enough to provide support and limit swelling, but not so tightly that
you impede circulation. Compress the area for 30 minutes, and then remove
the compression for fifteen minutes to allow full circulation. Repeat for a few
hours or as needed.
* Elevation – To ensure drainage of fluids from the injured area, elevate the
affected part to a level above your heart. Rest and relax for thirty minutes.
Prevention is Important
While sometimes tendinitis is unavoidable in many cases is can be avoided
by implementing a few simple steps.
* Warm up before participating in sports. This allows the tendons and
muscles to become more flexible, which makes strains less likely.
* Watch the reps. Be careful when engaging in any activity that involves
using the same joint repeatedly. If you experience pain, stop.
* If your job or favorite activity causes you to be subject to recurring episodes
of tendinitis, it may be helpful to consult a coach or occupational therapist that
can help you modify you movements in order to avoid stressing the weak
or injury prone area.
- Helpful Supplements for Tendinitis
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