Tendon Inflammation and Chiropractic Wellness

Tendonitis can be a painful condition that occurs when tendon/s that connect bone/s to muscle/s become damaged/injured. This can be from overuse of the particular tendon/s or using them in an improper fashion. Whatever the case, the result is inflammation, pain, and swelling. With injury/s where the tendon is stressed/strained to the point of injury, the soft tissue around the area can also be affected. More than 4 million people a year in the U.S. seek some form of medical treatment for tendonitis symptoms.

Common types include:

• Achilles tendonitis
• Runner’s knee
• Golfer’s elbow
• Jumper’s knee
• Pitcher’s shoulder
• Swimmers shoulder
• Tennis elbow

Other tendons in the body can also experience symptoms. Symptoms usually occur at the point where the tendon attaches to the bone and include:

• Pain as a dull ache, especially when moving the limb or joint
• Tenderness
• Moderate swelling

The wrist, fingers, Achilles tendon, and ankle can all become inflamed from the condition. Primary care physicians are the ones to usually diagnose the injury. Once there is a definitive diagnosis, a non-surgical non-invasive treatment plan is the first recommended option. If these do not work then surgical procedures could be discussed. Chiropractic care is a first-line option that many physicians recommend.

Proper Rehabilitation Makes a Difference

This is usually from improper or incomplete healing. Many individuals resume normal activities/chores as soon as the pain goes away. This is a mistake, as this is the time when continued care for the injury needs to be observed to heal completely. For this reason, tendonitis tends to recur. This inflames the area of the original injury which can then become aggravated, causing more pain. But more importantly, this aggravation can lead to a re-injury in the same area, which can be more severe the second time around. Chiropractic can help the tendon heal completely and help prevent re-injury to the area.

Chiropractic

Tendonitis symptoms can resemble other conditions, therefore the first step is confirmation. A doctor may use X-rays, MRIs, or CAT scans to make a positive diagnosis. A chiropractor will work with the patient in developing a treatment plan that is effective, and customized to the patient’s needs. The core of the treatment is focused on the root cause of the problem, and not just alleviating the symptoms.

With severe inflammation, a chiropractor will utilize inflammation reducing techniques like bracing, rest, ice, electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound, low-level laser therapy, massage, and physical therapy. The focus is to loosen the tendon/s to reduce inflammation so that the treatment can continue to the next phase. Once the inflammation is under control, a chiropractor might start:

• Massage
• Physical therapy
• Joint manipulation
• Strength exercises

If the individual has limited joint mobility then joint manipulation and adjustments could be the best option.

Treatment Plan

Initial pain often subsides or even disappears after the first two to three weeks. This does not mean that the injury is fully healed. Many patients mistakenly believe that once the pain is gone the condition is gone. This is not true. Inflammation could decrease over the first three weeks, however, complete healing takes around six weeks and longer.  Scar tissue forms during this time which is how the body repairs the injury.

Once the injury is repaired the scar tissue has to be broken down so the area can regain mobility and flexibility. A chiropractor will use specialized techniques to break down the scar tissue. This could also include massage and ultrasound to help in the process. Mild stretching exercises could also be incorporated into the plan. As the tissues heal fully then a therapeutic exercise regiment can continue in the aid in breaking down the scar tissue further. These exercises will work the muscles but do not involve the tendons.

Better Health

Tendon inflammation can be healed completely and chiropractic care can help in achieving this. Chiropractic medicine takes the entire body approach, which means that everything is connected in some way. So if there is a form of pain in one place, it does not mean that that spot is where the source of the pain is coming from. It could be somewhere completely different, and so the chiropractor is going to work both areas and possibly others to alleviate the cause and not just alleviate the symptoms. Chiropractic medicine also includes diet, supplemental help, and lifestyle choices that can help the healing process and overall health. Once treatment is complete the individual can typically return to normal activities without the risk of re-injury and re-inflammation.

Treating Inflammation Naturally

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