Treating the Causes and Symptoms of Tendon Strain

Posted on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 8:55 pm

Sports injuries are the most common activities that may cause tendon strain. The Achilles tendon that connects the calf muscles to the anklebone are often injured by those who play basketball.

When such an injury takes place, usually rest of the body part is indicated, as is putting ice on it. The part is then often wrapped which offers some pain relief as well as preventing swelling. Finally, the injured part is elevated above the heart, if possible, as that too prevents swelling and minimizes the pain.

Putting stress on any tendon is likely to result in an injury if a repetitive activity is emphasized too much or if something happens to overstretch the tendon quickly. This would happen for example if a weightlifter continued to work out the tendon every day, regardless of the warning of pain. Pain indicates that rest is needed by the body in order to repair the injured tissue. To prevent tendon strain, a body must be conditioned for it. This is why too, even professional dancers stretch prior to rehearsal or a performance.

When someone has indeed suffered an injury or tendon strain, it’s often very easy to diagnose by looking at the loss of range of motion the patient is suffering. However, a physician needing further assessment may order required tests through the use of an MRI, ultrasound, or even x-rays. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) will usually be prescribed as well.

After healing from surgery, through care is essential. A surgeon may suggest the stretching and strengthening with a daily exercise regimen for the injured muscles. Most often, exercises are done while in warm water to help prevent re-injuring the area. Sometimes you may need to visit a physical therapist to help ensure the proper maneuvers of such exercises. Therapy may involve more than just exercises. Depending on the cause of the injury, the use of soft tissue massages, stretching, running and gait re-education, or ultrasound therapy may be necessary. Various types of splints may be necessary or even the use of cortisone injections or perhaps a medicine for numbing the area may be required.

Physical therapy may comprise of strengthening exercises, ultrasound therapy, soft-tissue massage/mobilization, and stretching and also gait or running re-education. If the tendon strain was done to the Achilles tendon, the surgeon or doctor treating the patient may order appropriate shoes that properly fit your personal foot type. Also, the appropriate shoes may have to actually fit the particular activity. For example, running shoes are different from those used to play basketball. Having the appropriate shoe will prevent recurrence of the condition sometimes. Tendon strain accounts for as high as 50% of sports injuries, thus it may be very important to prevent them from happening.

Tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow are excellent examples of sports related injuries that are often created by misuse of the sport’s instrument. Tendon strain is quite common in these sports as well, and the treatment is the same as found above in those instances.

Tom Nicholson has spent years helping carpal tunnel sufferers. You can click here to learn more about having asore wrist.

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