tendon injuries

Tendons can be ruptured by a single over-enthusiastic movement. Such acute injuries are quite dramatic and usually leave the sufferer unable to move the affected joint. In these cases, surgery may be needed to secure the tendon to its bone. However, most tendon injuries develop insidiously through chronic overuse during activities that produce high compression forces (e.g. road running) or twisting forces (e.g. golf and tennis). One theory suggests that tendons repeatedly subjected to relatively large loads suffer microscopic ruptures. Individual loads are tolerated, but if they are repeated often enough the tendon starts to break down (metal fatigues in a similar way).

Treatment of tendon injuries varies depending on their severity. Rest is the first and most important treatment. Ice and analgesics are often applied to reduce any swelling and pain. Ultrasound, acupuncture, and laser therapy are a few of the many treatments employed by physiotherapists. Stretching exercises are usually an important part of a rehabilitation programme because lack of flexibility of a muscle-tendon unit is a major contributory factor to injury. Unfortunately, tendons have a poor blood supply and are generally slow to heal.

Damage to a tendon. Tendons have a poor blood supply; therefore, injuries are generally slow to heal. Tendon injuries include ruptures that may be partial or complete, tendinitis and tenosynovitis. The main aims of treating acute tendon injuries are: (i) to avoid disruption of the repairing tendon early in healing, (ii) prevent atrophy of associated joints and muscles, and (iii) encourage the tendon tissue to heal. Initial treatment (for the first 5 or 6 days after the injury) includes RICE and anti-inflammatories, followed by a gradual introduction of stress.