Prophylaxis for tendonitis | Tendinitis

Prophylaxis for tendonitis

The prophylaxis of tendonitis always consists in choosing the right level of strain. Athletes should always approach a higher level of stress slowly in order to get the tendons used to it. This is especially true for newcomers.

Before training, a sufficient warm-up program with stretching exercises is mandatory. The right equipment can also effectively prevent tendon inflammation. If you are under stress during work, you should take care not to move too much to one side and take several short breaks in the office, for example.

Ergonomically shaped keyboards and mice and the correct posture also play an important role in preventing tendonitis. The following section discusses the special features of the possible localization of tendon inflammationTendon inflammation of the shoulder occurs comparatively frequently, since it is a highly stressed, complicated joint with many degrees of freedom. A number of tendons are involved, particularly often the tendon of the supraspinatus muscle or a tendon of the biceps is affected.

Symptoms Inflammation of the tendon in the shoulder is characterized by pain, swelling and sometimes severely restricted mobility. The pain is more severe during movement. Spreading the arm is particularly problematic.

Cause Causes tendonitis of the shoulder are usually caused by excessive strain during sports or physical work. Particularly frequent work above the head can promote tendon inflammation, but tennis players or handball players who increase the strain excessively also suffer from it. In addition to this, an anatomical peculiarity in the shoulder may be the cause, which is known as impingement syndrome.

The tendon of the supraspinatus muscle passes through a narrow passage between the bones in the shoulder. Under certain circumstances, the tendon may become trapped here, causing severe irritation of the tendon. This leads to tendon inflammation.

The biceps tendon also runs in the shoulder in a kind of channel, which is sometimes too narrow. Thus also here an inflammation of the biceps tendon develops preferably. Diagnosis The greatest importance in the diagnosis of inflammation of the shoulder tendon is attached to the questioning of the character of the pain, sporting activities or changes at work.

The typical creeping onset of movement-related pain, possibly with a suitable trigger, can provide much information. The anamnesis is supplemented by a test of mobility in the shoulder joint. Experienced examiners can make more precise statements with the ultrasound.

If there are any uncertainties, an MRI of the shoulder will best show the tendons. Therapy The most effective measure in case of tendon inflammation in the shoulder is to immobilize the joint for a few days. Acutely, cold helps, in the course of time warming compresses.

If the tendon inflammation persists, anti-inflammatory drugs such as Diclofenac can be given. If the impingement syndrome is the cause, it helps to strengthen the muscles around the joint through physiotherapy to relieve the affected tendon. In exceptional cases, the tendon inflammation of the shoulder must be treated by a minimally invasive procedure.

Inflammation of the tendon is also not uncommon on the arm or forearm. Here, the tendon sheaths are usually also affected. Symptoms The tendon inflammation shows itself through pain and possibly slight swelling.

A finger movement alone can cause severe pain in the forearm, an inflamed biceps tendon hurts when bent in the arm. Inflammation of the tendon on the forearm is of particular importance, since the tendons that control the hand are affected here and thus lead to severe restriction. Causes Overstimulation of the tendons in the arm or forearm is the main cause of tendonitis.

On the forearm, many complaints are caused by work as well as sport. The tendons on the forearm move the hand and fingers, so that tendonitis on the forearm often plays a role for people working in an office.A lot of typing on the keyboard combined with a wrong posture at the desk can irritate the tendons and surrounding sheaths on the forearm so much that they become inflamed. A similar phenomenon can be seen in guitar players.

Here, too, tendon inflammation is not uncommon, especially when the tendon sheaths are involved. In addition to these localizations, the biceps tendon on the arm is often the site of complaints. Certain exercises in the fitness area, such as bicep curls or pull-ups, put a lot of strain on these muscles, so that it is not uncommon for tendonitis to develop in the arm after extensive training.

Diagnosis The first step is to ask about the type and duration of the complaints and the most recent activities. Then the arm or forearm is tested for pressure and stretching pain at the indicated points, followed by a test of mobility. This diagnosis is usually sufficient to initiate therapy in the case of tendon inflammation.

In cases of doubt, MRI can be used to determine the exact extent of the inflammation on the arm or forearm. Therapy In addition to protecting the affected areas, cool compresses that are later warmed can relieve pain and inflammation. Anti-inflammatory tablets or ointments support this process.

Persistent complaints may require the use of cortisone as an ointment or direct injection, surgical interventions are rarely necessary. The elbow is also exposed to a large mechanical force due to its movements. The tendons of the upper and lower arm muscles run along and around the elbow.

Incorrect strain or overloading can lead to irritation in the area of the tendons of the elbow. If consistent protection is not maintained despite an irritation, this can result in tendon inflammation in the elbow. Symptoms Symptoms are pulling and burning pains and sometimes movement impairments in the area of the elbow joint.

Therapy The first and most important treatment measure is cooling and immobilization of the elbow. Taping or an anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving drug treatment can also accelerate the recovery process. The thumb is stabilized by strong muscles, which provide not only the supporting and holding function but also the movement.

Each muscle is fixed with a tendon to certain metacarpals or to a bone of the wrist. The tendon is subject to increased friction with every movement and can therefore become inflamed. Risk factors for tendon inflammation of the thumb are excessively heavy loads in the joint or very unusual movements.

If certain movements in the thumb are performed particularly frequently, the thumb tendon may be excessively irritated. In the worst case, the tendon becomes inflamed. Symptoms The first signs of tendonitis of the thumb are pulling and burning pains.

The pain is localized in the area of the tendon attachment and can be triggered mainly by the movement of the thumb. In the case of severe inflammation of the thumb, pain in the thumb joint can occur even at rest. Diagnosis The diagnosis is made clinically, i.e. the examiner will ask the patient when the pain started and where it is localized and whether any unusual movements have been performed in advance.

An ultrasound examination is performed less frequently. Therapy The treatment is carried out by immobilising the thumb promptly and cooling it with ice. Furthermore, anti-inflammatory drugs can also be used.

Sometimes it may be necessary to fix the thumb additionally. Either fixing bandages or small splints are suitable for this. The duration of tendonitis of the thumb varies depending on the strength of the inflammation and the consequences of the treatment.

Tendons run through the wrist, connecting the muscles of the forearm with the hand and thus are particularly responsible for bending the hand and fingers. Inflammation of these tendons is not so frequent, but can occur in some cases. The causes are usually overstraining or incorrect positioning of the wrist.

Even a one-sided activity, such as long typing on a keyboard or unusual movements and stimuli, can lead to tendonitis in the wrist. The symptoms begin a few hours to a day after the strain. They usually manifest themselves as swelling, redness and warming of the wrist.

Tendinitis is also accompanied by pain and limited wrist movement due to the swelling. If these symptoms occur, the hand should first be immobilized and cooled. Immobilization can also be achieved with a bandage or splint.If there is no improvement, anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs such as ibuprofen can be taken.

Physiotherapy can be useful if the movement in the wrist is restricted for a longer period of time. If the disease takes a very severe and complicated course, in which calcium deposits form, surgery may be necessary in rare cases.

• Inflammation of the wrist
• Tendinitis of the wrist

Tendons also run in the hip area, which can become inflamed in some cases, although other structures such as bursae, a kind of cushioning pad, are often also affected.

Symptoms The inflammation of the tendons of the hip is particularly noticeable when walking. It causes pain, which can also occur at rest. Sometimes you can feel a kind of snapping of a tendon over a bony protrusion.

Causes The most common form of tendon inflammation of the hip is the so-called trochanterendinosis. On the lateral thigh there is a kind of tendon bundle which runs over a bony projection of the thigh (trochanter major) at the hip. At this point, there is often a strong mechanical load when this bundle rubs over the bone.

Overloading in sports usually leads to tendon inflammation, but malpositioning of the hip joint also promotes inflammation at this point. Diagnosis The inquiry of the complaints is in the foreground with the tendon inflammation of the hip, usually additionally a pressure pain over the tendon occurs. In the ultrasound the doctor can see thickening and possibly calcification, which are signs of inflammation.

Further apparatus measures such as an MRT are advisable in case of doubt. Therapy The most important thing is to minimize the strain on the hip as much as possible and to spare the tendons. If the pain occurs acutely after a strain, cooling measures will help.

If the pain persists for a longer period of time, the use of anti-inflammatory drugs such as Diclofenac is recommended. Malpositions should be treated with physiotherapy. Tendinitis of the knee is, with the exception of a few cases, a symptom that mainly affects athletes, but also physically hard working people.

Symptoms Inflammation of the tendon also manifests itself on the knee in the form of pain, which is initially noticeable during movement and later also at rest. The location of the pain is frontal or lateral, depending on the cause. Causes The cause of the tendon inflammation in the knee is a strain that exceeds the normal level.

Too much strain irritates the tendons in such a way that the body reacts with an inflammatory reaction. Depending on the type of sport practised, there are different symptoms of knee pain: Diagnosis Regardless of the tendon affected, the inflammation of the knee tendon is primarily determined by the medical history. Pressure pain in the affected area and limited function confirm the diagnosis.

In doubtful cases, an X-ray or MRI of the knee may also be useful in order to rule out the involvement of other structures. Therapy One should initially spare a knee affected by tendonitis. Cooling measures support the healing process.

In the case of prolonged complaints, for example, diclofenac is used, which has a pain-relieving effect and inhibits the inflammation. In most cases, these measures are sufficient to provide adequate treatment for tendonitis of the knee. If the tendon is severely affected, a minor operation can be performed.

Our next articles could also be of interest to you:

• The jumper’s knee: In this case, the patellar tendon is affected because it is irritated by strong tensile and stretching forces, especially during jumping movements. This leads to tendon inflammation, which causes pain frontally at the knee.
• The runner’s knee: In very active runners, tendonitis is observed in a tendon plate running laterally along the thigh from the hip to the knee. Footballers and tennis players are also increasingly affected.

  Since this tendon plate runs over a bony protrusion at the knee, the inflammation causes pain when moving laterally at the knee.

• Inflammation of the tendon of the posterior thigh: In the context of overloading, mostly in running, the tendon of the posterior thigh muscle can also be affected and develop tendonitis. This causes pain when the knee or hip is extended, which is located laterally in the hollow of the knee.
• Tendon inflammation in the hollow of the knee
• Patellar Tendon Inflammation

On the thigh there are many muscle groups and vision, so that tendonitis is not uncommon here. Often the adductors, which are located on the inside of the thigh, are involved.Symptoms Many athletes complain of pain in the thigh and groin, especially soccer players are affected.

In addition, depending on the affected area, there is limited movement. If the adductors are affected, the pulling of the leg causes complaints. Causes Inflammation of the tendon on the thigh is almost always caused by excessive or newly occurring, unaccustomed strain, which leads to irritation and inflammation of one or more tendons.

Soccer players or tennis players are often affected by adductor problems, since sudden and rapid lunges are often made to the side, which irritate the tendons there very much. Diagnosis The nature of the complaints, which may be related to a triggering event, and some clinical tests quickly bring to mind an inflammation of the tendon in the thigh. It is difficult to pull the leg up, and there is also a pressure pain above the tendon insertion.

The ultrasound confirms the diagnosis. Examinations like an MRT are indicated in cases of doubt. Therapy The first priority is to spare the corresponding muscle groups.

The healing process is supported by cold and, in the course of time, heat or anti-inflammatory drugs such as diclofenac or ibuprofen. Surgical interventions are performed in exceptional cases, but are rarely crowned with success. Read more about this below:

• Tendinitis of the thigh
• Tendinitis in the leg

There are two places on the foot where tendonitis is common.

The sole of the foot or the Achilles tendon at the back above the heel. Symptoms Inflammation of the tendon on the heel or sole of the foot is particularly stressful, as walking is sometimes severely restricted. In addition, patients complain of pain that occurs at rest and is dependent on movement.

The occurrence hurts, as does the lifting of the foot. Causes There are two main types of foot complaints: Diagnosis

Decisive is the typical anamnesis with classic symptoms and the corresponding previous stress. Movement tests and precise palpation indicate the corresponding tendon, which is painful under pressure.

Ultrasound and, if necessary, MRI are used to detect damage to the tendons. Malpositions may have to be examined further. Therapy

Immediate protection and cooling compresses help acutely, in the further process heat is beneficial to healing.

The sports break can take several weeks. Anti-inflammatory agents support the healing process. Cushioning insoles in the shoe and physiotherapy exercises can also be useful.

Chronic tendonitis sometimes requires surgical therapy. Diagnosis Decisive is the typical anamnesis with classic symptoms and the corresponding previous strain. Movement tests and exact palpation indicate the corresponding tendon, which is painful under pressure.

Ultrasound and, if necessary, MRI are used to detect damage to the tendons. Malpositions may have to be examined further. Acute therapy: Immediate protection and cooling compresses help, in the further course of treatment heat promotes healing.

The sports break can take several weeks. Anti-inflammatory agents support the healing process. Cushioning insoles in shoes and physiotherapy exercises can also be useful.

Chronic tendonitis sometimes requires surgical therapy.

• Plantar fasciitis: Behind tendon inflammation on the sole of the foot is usually a disease called plantar fasciitis. It is an inflammation of the plantar tendon, which extends from the sole of the foot to the toes.

  Overstraining by running, sprinting, playing soccer, but also wrong footwear leads to permanent irritation and inflammation of the tendon.

• Achilles tendonitis: A common cause of pain in the heel is inflammation of the Achilles tendon. This strongest tendon in the body is stressed during a variety of activities. Overloading leads relatively quickly to tendonitis.

  Excessive walking of any kind is responsible. Especially too high speed or long runs, which the body is not used to, lead to pain in the heel. Unsuitable shoes or malpositioning of the ankle joint can also cause tendonitis of the heel.