What’s in a Name?
Tendinitis has been the word used to describe tendon pain for a quarter of a century. This breakthrough in understanding tendon injury has led to a change in the name used to describe the condition. For a few years, researchers used the words Tendonosis but more recently have settled on the term Tendinopathy. This term simply describes a painful tendon without assuming anything about the problem that causes the pain.
So What Causes Tendon Pain?
Research suggested that many tendon troubles are associated with tendons that are given a load that is more than they can cope with. This leads to tissue breakdown without the traditional inflammatory response that other injuries get. This ‘degenerative’ process happens in athletes of all ages who go through a period of stressing their tendons more than they can cope with.
A common (and surprising) example of this is the sedentary office worker who plays the ‘one-off’ game of touch football at a family barbecue. The prolonged ‘inactivity’ of the individual shields the tendon from damage until the sudden change in workload tips the tendon into a degenerative state.
Get and Stay Active: the New Treatment for Tendon Pain
Activity advice from your QSMC Physiotherapist and Exercise Physiologist is the 21st-century ‘gold standard’ of treatment for tendon injuries. Your Physio will help you to diagnose the condition and write a management plan. They may even encourage you to see a doctor for further advice on interventions or medications. Where indicated, a referral to an Exercise Physiologist for specific strength and technique training may be recommended. Follow these guidelines to maximise the chance of a successful recovery:
Activity
Be Active. Low-load endurance activity that is relatively symptom-free has enormous benefits to your physical, psychological, and recuperative health and can be done safely during your recovery.. Avoid exhaustive and high heart rate exercise as it promotes free radical production that fosters further troubles with your tendons. Further, avoid a sudden increase or decrease in your activity loads. A well-balanced general activity program is of paramount importance to a good recovery strategy for tendinopathies.
Unload
Tape, brace, or the use of an orthotic may be required to unload the injured tendon. Your Physiotherapist will advise you if these interventions are appropriate for your condition.
Eccentric Loading Program
Your Physiotherapist will design a specific exercise program that research shows is the ‘key’ to a successful rehabilitation program. This exercise program can be supervised by your Exercise Physiologist to ensure correct technique and can also show you how to perform these activities safely at home.
Action Plan
So you can see that with activity being the key to successful rehabilitation, a visit with your Physiotherapist and Exercise Physiologist is the place to be when it comes to therapeutic exercise for a tendon injury. Contact us on 3891 2000 or reception@qsmc.net.au to organise a visit with our team!
