Tendinitis is an incredibly common issue that causes pain to develop in the joints. This can impact the hips, knees, elbows, or shoulders. Pain caused by tendinitis can impact everyday activities, making it exceedingly difficult to remain comfortable and active in your day-to-day life.
It can pose challenges to even the simplest of activities, such as reaching to grab a glass from the top shelf of the cabinet or bending down to pick up a dropped item. To make it worse, tendinitis can worsen over time, becoming chronic and incredibly painful. Fortunately, by consulting with a physical therapist early on, you can avoid severe pain and work to improve your flexibility, range of motion, and overall function in the affected joint(s). At Central Park Physical Therapy, we can help you get back to living your life comfortably!
What is tendinitis?
It is known as an “overuse injury,” because it develops over time. Every bone in the body is connected with muscular fibers called tendons. The tendons are flexible, allowing the body to move freely by letting bones stretch apart or move in one direction or another. It occurs when the tendons become inflamed, which can result in swelling and pain, especially with movement of the affected area.
Typically, when pain is caused as a result of tendinitis, the pain is isolated at the noted areas of the body. For example, a tennis player may experience tendinitis in the elbow or shoulder, whereas a runner may be more likely to experience it in the Achilles tendon. In fact, this is why tendinitis in the elbow is frequently referred to as “tennis elbow,” while Achilles tendinitis is frequently referred to as “runner’s ankles” or “runner’s heels.”
How can physical therapy help treat my tendinitis?
When tendinitis first develops, a good rule of thumb is to practice the R.I.C.E method – rest, ice, compression, elevation. It is also important to take a few days off from strenuous physical activity, in order to allow the affected area to heal. When necessary, you can also utilize crutches as a way keep the bulk of your weight off of the affected area.
However, the most important part of making sure your tendinitis heals quickly and effectively is working with a physical therapist. Your physical therapist can help you identify the best methods of treatment for your specific needs and design an individualized treatment plan accordingly. Your physical therapist can also help you identify the best range of motion and strength-building activities to reduce your likelihood of worsening your tendinitis or developing it again in the future. For more information about preventing or treating pain from tendinitis, don’t hesitate to contact Central Park Physical Therapy today! We’ll help you get back in the game as quickly as possible.