Relief from Tendonitis. What are the options?
Tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon, the fibrous collagen cord that attaches muscle to bone. Tendonitis most commonly occurs from overuse. Tendonitis can cause swelling and pain in the affected area, as well as a lack of normal function of the associated joint.
Tendonitis can affect any part of the body where a tendon is located. The most common areas of the body are:
Elbow (golfers or tennis elbow)
Shoulder
Hip
Knee
Heel (Achilles tendonitis)
Base of thumb
Often, tendonitis is caused by physical activity, such as sports or working out. But it can also occur with overuse such as standing for prolonged periods of time, typing or texting, or lifting.
Symptoms of tendonitis typically include:
Pain that worsens with movement
Swelling, heat and even redness at the location of the injury
A lump that may form along the tendon
So, what can you do to treat tendonitis?
Resting is key. You can’t continue to do the same activity which caused the acute injury. Taking time away from the activity will ensure you do not further aggravate the issue.
Icing the area regularly. If there is swelling or redness using an ice pack can reduce swelling and pain. Be sure not to apply an ice pack direct to the skin. Instead, wrap it in a cloth to avoid cold burn on your skin.
Many doctors prescribe painkillers and steroids. These medications can reduce inflammation and pain, however, they do not repair the damage. In fact they can sometimes make the problem worse because if you don’t feel pain you may continue to exacerbate the problem.
Low-Level Cold Laser Therapy has been an effective treatment option for all types of tendonitis. Low-level laser therapy doesn’t work to just reduce inflammation and relieve pain, it actually works at the cellular level to accelerate healing and help regenerate damaged tissues. At Glenbourne Chiropractic, we use the Bioflex laser device, which is approved by Health Canada and has had numerous studies completed on its effectiveness to reduce pain, inflammation and stimulate healing.
Specific exercises & stretches are an important part of the long term recovery plan, once the inflammation and swelling is reduced. The best defence against tendonitis is prevention. Proper posture and stretching before and after exercise will ensure that you don’t continue to aggravate the issue.
Book a Cold Laser Consultation Today
If you’re suffering from Tendonitis, schedule a consultation with us to discuss how cold laser therapy can provide relief for you. Call (902) 445-9345 today.