| -> | | | | sports that cause the condition to erupt. For example, |
| We've all heard about tennis elbow, and many of us | | | | repeated motion of the golfer's swing or a pitcher's |
| have suffered from it. In reality, it is a form of tendonitis | | | | throwing arm in baseball over the course of time can |
| brought on by the frequent, repetitive motions involved | | | | cause weakness in the tissue and lead to inflammation |
| in playing tennis. Tendonitis, however, is not limited to | | | | of the muscles and tendons. This is why it's so |
| the elbow or arm. It can occur throughout the body. | | | | important to do stretching exercises and warm ups |
| Any activity which places stress on the same tendon | | | | prior to strenuous activity. |
| can cause that tendon to become inflamed and sore. | | | | Left untreated, things can only get worse. Both acute |
| Chronic Tendonitis | | | | and chronic tendonitis sometimes will result in a tear or |
| Tendonitis can be either acute (i.e. a temporary flare | | | | rupture of the tendon. In this case, the physician will |
| up) or chronic (i.e. long lasting). When tendonitis keeps | | | | probably prescribe surgery, but only after more |
| recurring, it is called chronic tendonitis. | | | | conservative measures have failed. |
| Tendons are composed of elastic-like tissue which | | | | Treating Chronic Tendonitis |
| connects our muscles to our bones. As we age, | | | | Acute or chronic tendonitis can cause mild to severe |
| tendons tend to lose their elasticity through normal | | | | pain. In its simplest and most conservative approach, |
| wear and tear. From time to time, a tendon will break | | | | treatment will involve analgesics such as ibuprofen and |
| or tear and scar tissue forms in the healing process. | | | | resting the affected area. Depending on the severity, |
| Scar tissue is not as flexible as tendon tissue and | | | | your physician may conclude that you will benefit from |
| frequently causes pain and inflammation with continued | | | | an anti-inflammatory medication and may prescribe |
| use and motion. Most often the areas affected are | | | | cortisone injections. This is an effective, and powerful |
| elbows, knees, ankles, shoulders and feet. | | | | anti-inflammatory medication that helps to reduce the |
| Obviously it's these parts of our anatomy that see | | | | pain and swelling and promote healing of tendonitis. |
| repeated use during the course of a normal day. As | | | | Treatment may also include mild stretching exercises in |
| we continue placing strain on an injured tendon, it | | | | order to keep the joints flexible. |
| doesn't have an opportunity to heal which, in turn, leads | | | | Just a word of caution is in order. Corticosteroids can |
| to chronic tendonitis. | | | | be injected but they do not come without risks. One of |
| Age is only one of the underlying causes of chronic | | | | their side effects is that they can weaken the immune |
| tendonitis. Athletes who are highly trained and in superb | | | | system or infection can appear at the injection site. |
| condition can also suffer from chronic tendonitis. Again, | | | | Again, It is critical that the tendon be given time to heal |
| it is the repetitive motions required by a variety of | | | | or more serious tendon injury can occur. |