Swimmer’s shoulder
Jumper’s knee
Pitcher’s shoulder
Tennis elbow
You’ve probably heard one of these terms at some point or another. Though each term refers to a different body part, all refer to a common ailment: tendonitis.
Tendonitis is caused when tendons (the thick cords that join your muscles to your bones) become irritated or inflamed. Any tendon can develop tendonitis, but most of time it occurs in the shoulders, elbows, heels and wrists.
What are the Symptoms of Tendonitis?
Tendinitis is known to cause acute pain and tenderness that often makes moving the affected joint difficult.
Those experiencing tendonitis will usually feel a dull ache that is concentrated around the inflamed joint. The pain will often increase when that area is moved or if it is touched, and oftentimes swelling is present.
What Causes Tendonitis?
Tendinitis can be a result of:
• an injury
• repetitive movement
• aging
• disease (such as rheumatoid arthritis)
That being said, the most common cause of tendinitis is repetitive action. Athletes or sport’s enthusiasts are often at a higher risk for developing tendonitis. Especially, those who play tennis, golf, baseball, and basketball, where the same actions are repeated over and over again.
Those in a job that requires a lot of physical exertion, overhead lifting, and awkward positions may also be at a higher risk of developing tendonitis.
How to Prevent Tendonitis
• Remember to warm up and cool down before and after working out or participating in sports.
• Make sure you use good technique and proper equipment! Ask someone to check your form to make sure you are not at risk of injuring yourself.
• Do strengthening exercises with hand weights – to strengthen your joints.
• Avoid or modify work tasks that put excessive pressure on muscles near the affected area. If that is not an option, that frequent breaks.
Simple Ways to Relieve Tendonitis
• Ice it. Apply ice to the joint for 15 minutes every hour until swelling subsides. This will help temporarily reduce acute pain.
• Tape or Brace the Joint. Taping or using a brace can help reduce further stressing the muscles and tendons. This will often speed recovery times.
• Try Acupuncture. Acupuncture can be an effective tool for tendonitis because it directly targets the muscles and tendons affected by overuse. It helps the tight muscles to relax and increases blood flow to the area, which in turn promotes the healing process. We offer acupuncture at the clinic. Click here to book an initial consultation with our acupuncturist.
• Get Adjusted. Chiropractic adjustments can also help tendonitis. Tendon problems can be caused by spinal stress. How? Joints are able to move because of nerves that control its action; those nerves emerge from the spine, and travel down to your arms and legs. If a spinal subluxation (misalignment) is causing the nerves to lose full function, tendonitis and pain can result. On top of that, if the tendonitis was caused by a direct injury or repetitive motion, spinal subluxations can worsen the condition. Have your tendonitis checked by a chiropractor. Schedule an appointment today!