Tendon injuries are incredibly common both for athletes and people who go to the gym or exercise in other ways regularly. This can be known as tendinopathy or tendinitis, however, you may be suffering from a niggle or ache without realising exactly what it is and what’s causing it.
We explore a few things about tendon injuries, including how you can identify them and ways you can treat them so you can get back on form.
What is a Tendon Injury?
Injuries relating to tendons and ligaments are often caused by overuse, which results in the degeneration of the tendon’s structure and degradation of smooth functioning. Added strain and stress caused by this can lead to pain, which can either be constant or will come in waves as and when you use your limbs in a specific way.
Tendon damage can feel worse when the body isn’t warmed up and you endeavour to complete certain actions and exercises. Common areas being affected by this include the elbow, rotator cuff and knee, but hamstrings, biceps and wrists can also be victim to this.
What Are the Ways to Treat Tendon Injuries?
One of the first things to keep in mind is that simply resting and hoping your tendon will recover isn’t necessarily going to work. Similarly, pushing yourself past the pain and hoping that you will get used to the pain from the affected area also won’t work. Proper rehabilitation usually involves a proactive effort to strengthen and stabilize the tendon.
The best way to address issues like this is to see a professional who can diagnose the problem, as well as trained practitioners who can offer sports therapy and bodywork techniques to make improvements.
What Happens During Rehabilitation for Tendons?
Your therapist or practitioner will advise on certain techniques depending on the type of ailment you have and its severity. This will involve activities to both relieve the pain as well as improve strength, flexibility and coordination.
The equipment used will also vary depending on the type of industry you have, as well as the practitioner you are seeing. Nevertheless, most treatments related to tendon injuries will be looking to do the following things:
- Stretch and exercise to help the tendon heal completely
- Strengthen the tendon to avoid future injuries (If you’re going back to the sport this is crucial)
- Improve blood circulation
- Reduce stiffness and trigger points in other parts of the body to improve overall balance and form
- Build endurance
- Increase agility and capability in real-life (active movements)
If you’re suffering from a tendon injury and are looking for some help on repairing and strengthening this area, talk to us at Acubody and we’ll see what we can do. We’re a specialist clinic to many London sports injury clinics and our practitioners are well versed in helping people who have suffered tendon damage.
