All About Your Tendons – Tendinopathy

Tendinopathy simply means an injured tendon and this can develop in any area of the body. Tendons are tough connective tissues that link muscle to bone and most commonly occur in highly active joints such as the elbow, knee, ankle or shoulder.  In this article, we’re taking a look at the causes, symptoms and treatments for tendinopathy.

Do I Have Tendinopathy?

Our patients usually experience a tendon injury as pain in the affected area, stiffness of the joint and loss of strength. Tendinitis can sometimes cause inflammation so if you notice redness, warmth, swelling or tenderness around a joint then this could be an indicator of tendinopathy.

How do Tendon Injuries Occur?

The most common causes of a tendinopathy are simple wear and tear from sporting activities, overuse in daily routine and ageing. The injury is caused by what is known as ‘cumulative microtrauma’ where forces acting on the tendon cause small tears which can build into significant damage over time. 

Tendons are a very strong fibre designed to deal with heavy loads and strong pressures but they can become stressed when subjected to repetitive loading. For example, runners often get Achilles tendinitis as a result of intensive training where the Achilles does not have an opportunity to heal itself after the impact of a tough run, or people who spend a lot of time using a computer for their job can develop a repetitive strain injury in the tendons of their wrist and elbow. 

Diagnosis of Injury and its Causes

When you suspect a tendon injury, it’s important to get a proper diagnosis as soon as possible so that the problem doesn’t develop. Your physiotherapist will carry out a physical examination and help you understand the root cause of the issue. By discussing your daily routine, exercise regime, working environment and other health considerations, you can work together with your physio to find ways of avoiding unnecessary stress to the affected tendon.

Treating Tendinopathy

The most important thing to do when suffering from a tendinopathy is to rest the affected area. Avoid any activities that make the pain worse until you have seen a physiotherapist. Ice is a very effective tool in combating the pain and swelling caused by tendon injuries so use ice packs at regular intervals throughout the day. 

Your therapist will provide you with a range of strengthening exercises to treat your injury so make sure that you are doing these every day. It can take weeks or even months for a tendon injury to heal so it is vital to not return to normal activity too soon or you could cause further damage.

Let the Experts Treat You

If you suspect you have a tendinopathy and would like to discuss your treatment options with our team of experienced physiotherapists, call Specialist Sportscare now on (08) 9272 8222 or visit our contact page for more ways to get in touch.