Tendinitis

Tendons are bands of durable collagen fibers; their role is to connect muscles to bones and help facilitate proper anatomical movement and support. The suffix “-itis” is a telltale clue that tendonitis is primarily an issue of inflammation!

When something stresses or overloads the tendons, small microtears in the tend fibers can occur, leading to tissue damage, inflammation, and pain, and related symptoms.

Tendonitis can affect tendons all over the body, but when it occurs in the hand or elbow, basic daily tasks like writing, grooming, and even opening doors and jars can become challenging.

This painful condition is common among people who perform a lot of repetitive movements with their hands. They may lift, move, or manipulate objects too frequently or too quickly, or may lift objects which are too heavy relative to their general physical capacity.

How can a therapist help?

Hand therapy can be extremely beneficial if you’re struggling with tendonitis.

Hand therapy addresses symptoms and root causes of inflammation and tendon damage. In this way, relief is more thorough and longer-lasting.

There are several ways a Rehab Partners of Gadsden therapist may choose to relieve your symptoms of tendonitis. Early in your treatment, therapeutic exercises may be used to facilitate tissue healing, reduce inflammation, and (later in the recovery process) improve the strength of the muscles in the elbow, forearm, and hand.

Electrical stimulation is another method by which tendonitis pain can be relieved. This works by stimulating different sensory receptors and blocking noxious signals sent via the nervous system. You may benefit from therapeutic ultrasound, which uses sound waves to accelerate tissue healing, increase local circulation, and reduce scar tissue formation.

Your therapist may suggest certain lifestyle and ergonomic changes, to improve your body mechanics and prevent repetitive tissue damage. Splinting and bracing are also options to temporarily immobilize and/or support injured tendons as they heal. Contact our Gadsden clinic today for more information, or to schedule an appointment.