Hand And Arm Exercises Will Help To Prevent A Recurrence Of Tendonitis

If you strengthen your muscles, your tendons won’t have to do as much work, and this is useful in preventing a recurrence of tendonitis.

Yoga, because it involves stretching, and helps with stress, is also very useful in managing tendonitis. People with chronic hand and arm tendonitis find that stress is a factor in tendonitis recurrence, so relaxation exercises, and yoga, can be of immense benefit for tendonitis sufferers. Unfortunately, there’s no cure for tendonitis as such.

However, you can learn to manage tendonitis, especially if you do daily exercises. Exercising and stress management can keep your tendonitis at bay for years.

Wrist Tendonitis: Coping With The Injury And Preventing A Recurrence

May 20th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

A few years ago, when I was attending a marketing class, I had to stop writing, because my arm hurt too much - it felt just like a throbbing toothache. By the next day, my entire forearm was red and swollen. I went to a doctor, then a physiotherapist, and learned I had wrist tendonitis, which is also known as tenosynovitis.

Wrist tendonitis is a common form of RSI (repetitive strain injury), and it’s very prevalent and painful among people who use computers, as well as athletes, and anyone who performs the same tasks every day. Tendons join your muscles to your bones, and there are many tendons in your wrists.

Tendonitis occurs when the tendons become inflamed, and with wrist tendonitis usually only one tendon is inflamed, however two or more may be involved.

What To Do If You Have Wrist Tendonitis

As a first step, go and see your doctor for a definite diagnosis. Your doctor may send you for physiotherapy, or he may give you some exercises to do. He will recommend that you rest your injury, and this is vital.

However, it’s impossible to rest your wrists completely. You need your hands and arms for everything you do. So if the pain’s very bad, use a wrist splint for a few days, until the inflammation subsides. Wrist splints are widely available. The splint supports your wrist while the tendon recovers.

I’ve found that icing is very effective. Whenever I get a recurrence, I ice my wrist by wrapping an ice bag around my wrist and forearm for a few minutes every hour or so. This definitely helps, and the swelling goes down sooner than it does without treatment.

Once the swelling and pain are gone - this usually takes a few days - start exercising your shoulders, arms and wrists.

Wrist Exercises - Try Hand Weights And Yoga

You should use the exercises your therapist has given you, because everyone’s different. However, I’ve found that weight lifting with small hand weights works for me. I use the hand weights every day. I also do some yoga stretches every day. I’m convinced that this combination keeps my tendonitis at bay.

Staying Pain Free With Wrist Tendonitis

Most wrist tendonitis injuries are completely treatable with rest and exercise. I know that as long as I remember to do my stretching and weight lifting exercises, wrist tendonitis stays away. If I’m foolish enough to forget to do my exercises, it returns.

So if you’re currently suffering wrist tendonitis, try the RICE treatment (rest, ice, compression, elevation), then be sure to do your exercises every day, and you never need to have a recurrence.

Foot Tendonitis - treat it right away

May 19th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

There are many different kinds of tendonitis, and while all of them are painful, foot tendonitis can be disabling.

You use your feet every single day, so you need to make sure that you take good care of them. If you are very active, or work on your feet, chances are that you may risk getting foot problems, such as foot tendonitis. The best way for you to ensure that you don’t get any serious problems as a result of this is to treat it right away. This is best done by consulting a licensed physician and taking his medical advice seriously.

Here is some background on foot tendonitis that may be worth knowing about:

Tendonitis - what it is

The fibrous tissue that connects the muscle to the bone is known as your tendon. This tissue is very strong and elastic, and helps to transmit force from the muscle to the bone during physical activity. Sometimes, however, too much force or strain on the tendon can cause inflammation, known as tendonitis. Factors that cause this include overworking your muscles that will eventually tire them out. Tendonitis can occur with rigorous activity, or even over time, as the tendons lose their elasticity.

Feet Tendonitis - what kinds?

Most of the time, any kind of tendonitis that involves foot tendonitis is usually Achilles Tendonitis. In this type of foot tendonitis, the tendon that attaches the muscles to the heel bone, which is known as the Achilles’ heel, is overstrained. This can cause burning and shooting pain to occur during movement. Most often, foot tendonitis, especially Achilles tendonitis occurs with long distance runners who use their heel in rolling motions when running or jogging.

Most of the time, runners, or other athletes who do not want to cease or slow down their exercise routine do not treat foot tendonitis. This is a problem, as untreated or diagnosed tendonitis can cause permanent damage to the foot. That is why it is important to treat your tendonitis with rest and applying ice packs to the foot while elevated. Avoid exercise during this time will also help to expedite the healing process.

When the tendonitis has cleared, it is important to slowly work your way back into exercise, making sure to keep hydrated and perform stretches before exercise to loosen up the tendon. Yoga exercises are excellent to strengthen your feet tendons, and stretch the muscles and nerve tunnels.

What will also help provide long-term prevention is using a heel cup or cushion in your running shoes, so extra support will be provided for your feet and will aid in decreasing the risk of getting tendonitis again.

The Right Tendonitis Treatment for you

May 18th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you have tendonitis, you know that this injury can be disabling. However, it is treatable, and you can find the right treatment for you.

Like arthritis, tendonitis can cause joint swelling and inflammation in the affected area and can prevent the normal use of that part of the body, whether it is the wrist, knee or other area. Finding the right tendonitis treatment if of the utmost importance when learning to live with or overcome this chronic condition. There are many causes of tendonitis; overexertion, injury, sports-related condition or aging. Yet, there are successful treatments and therapies that can be employed with good results.

Tendonitis Treatments: Alternative Vs. Conventional

Often, when people begin to notice that their joints may be tender, red or swelling, they immediately call their doctors to schedule an appointment. Others put it off a bit longer, thinking that the condition will remedy itself with time. Still other people like to try alternative therapies and home remedies instead of making a trip to the doctor’s office. With every option, there are ways that help can be provided in tendonitis treatment. Doctors can often prescribe medications that will reduce the swelling and pain as well. Steroids are sometimes used in more severe cases, yet their long-term use in not generally recommended because of the nasty side effects of these drugs. Pain killers are prescribed for short-term use as well, depending on the severity of the pain. Yet, over a longer period, there use in mostly discouraged because of the risk of becoming dependent.

In the world of alternative therapy, homeopathic remedies are often employed for pain relief and overall healing of the tendonitis. Ginger root and cayenne can be made into a poultice to apply to the skin or into teas to help ease inflammatory conditions. Rubbing natural creams into the place of the tendonitis can be an effective tendonitis treatment as well. Getting to the root cause of the tendonitis is a bit harder, yet is crucial if one wants to overcome this debilitating condition. Often, one’s diet can be changed to include healthier choices and eliminating foods that are causing the inflammation within the body. This often works wonders in actually healing the tendonitis for good. Tendonitis treatments, no matter what route is chosen, are readily available and provide a hopeful outcome for this painful condition.

Tendonitis: The Inflammation of Your Tendons

May 15th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Anyone can get tendonitis, which is the inflammation of a tendon anywhere on our body.

When tendons are chronically overused, it may lead to microscopic tears in the collagen matrix and this causes a gradual weakening of the tissues. It is also associated with rheumatoid arthritis. There is generally a swelling in a region of micro damage or a partial tear is seen or it can even be felt by the doctor who will diagnose it by such means. The tendon is a tough and flexible bond of fibrous tissue and is the structure in the body that connects bone to muscle and it help in walking, jumping, lifting as well as moving in many different ways.

Different causes of tendonitis

One does not want any harm to come to the tendons which come in many shapes as well as sizes - with some being very small like those which move the fingers and there are other larger ones that help people to walk. The inflammation to the tendons can be caused by a number of different reasons which results in the action of pulling the muscle becoming quite irritating. Any impairment of the smooth gliding motion of the tendons will result in pain while moving and is called tendonitis.

Overuse can be the most common cause of tendonitis and may often occur when individuals begin to exercise or increase the level of their exercises, and it will result in symptoms of tendonitis. It may also be caused by the age-related factor, because with advancing years, the tendons tend to lose their elasticity as well as ability to glide as smoothly as they are accustomed to doing. Elderly people will thus be more at risk of developing tendonitis, and the cause of such a condition does require more study and research in order to completely comprehend the true causes.

There may even be anatomical reasons for getting tendonitis which can occur when the tendons are unable to get a smooth path to glide along and will thus become irritated as well as inflamed.

The best treatment or remedy for such an instance of tendonitis would be to go in for surgery which will help to realign the tendons once again. Tendonitis can be felt in the wrists, Achilles, kneecaps, as well as rotator cuff. When a person suffers from tendonitis, it is advisable to get plenty of rest as well as protect the affected area, and one may also need to apply an ice pack. In addition, anti-inflammatory medicines, and cortisone injections are effective means of treating tendonitis.

Chronic tendonitis

May 14th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Chronic tendonitis is not only painful, it can be disabling as well: millions suffer from it.

Chronic tendonitis which is a condition that affects the tendons in various parts of the body. The word “chronic” means recurring and tendons are the elastic-like tissue which connects the muscles to the bones.

These tendons tend to lose their elasticity with the aging process due to normal wear and tear. Often the tendon will break or tear and scar tissue will form. Since scar tissue is not as flexible as the tendon it can cause inflammation and pain with continued use to the area. The areas most affected are the elbow, shoulder, knees, ankles, and feet. During the course of the day these areas will usually get a lot of use and the area does not have time to heal before the need arises to use it again.

Age is not the only cause of chronic tendonitis. Athletes often suffer from this condition because of the repetitive motion required during athletic activity. For instance golfers constantly swing a golf club or ball players will constantly swing a bat or throw a ball. Over the course of time this causes the tendons to weaken and inflammation occurs. Many people suffer from chronic tendonitis because they fail to do the proper stretches or warm-up before exercising. This puts added strain on tendons, often leading to tearing or rupture. When it does, the treatment options are greatly diminished.

Dealing With the Pain of Chronic Tendonitis

The pain that is associated with tendonitis can range from very mild to extremely severe. The treatment can be as simple as ibuprofen and rest or your doctor may want you to begin an anti-inflammatory medication to relieve the swelling in the affected area. Often doctors will recommend mild stretching exercises in order to keep the joints flexible. Corticosteroids can be injected but they do not come without risks. They are known to weaken the immune system or infection can occur at the injection site. It is very important that the tendon be given time to heal or severe tendon injury can occur. Surgery may be needed in severe cases in order to relieve the pain.

The best way to prevent chronic tendonitis is to take steps to avoid activity which can cause the condition. Before exercising always make sure to do warm-up stretching. Consider changing your exercise routine to low impact, apply ice to any area that is inflamed, and stop the activity that requires further use of the affected tendon. This may mean some activity modification but in the long run it can help you avoid severe tendon damage and pain. Yoga stretches have also proved effective in some cases of chronic tendonitis.

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