Should I See a Chiropractor for Whiplash?
Chiropractic Association of South Africa (CASA)
What You Need to Know About Tendonitis
Pain & Inflammation
What you need to know about tendonitis
People often think that tendonitis is only something that sportspeople experience, however, tennis elbow, swimmers shoulder or even jumper’s knee are just as likely to occur while sitting at your desk, working in the garden or doing DIY work.
Linked to inflammation of the tendons, which may cause localised pain, swelling and restricted motion, these conditions do tend to be more common in people over the age of 40 as their tendons become less elastic, but if you’re a bit of a weekend warrior, you could also inadvertently be increasing your risk of developing tendonitis.
Tennis elbow
Tennis elbow, contrary to what its name suggests, is not only caused by playing tennis. Otherwise known as lateral epicondylitis, it’s a common overuse injury of the elbow. Many patients experience pain and swelling on the outside of the elbow and struggle with a weaker grip. Your chiropractor may choose to treat this type of tendonitis with shockwave, dry needling or massage therapy.
Swimmer’s shoulder
In keeping with the sports theme, swimmer’s shoulder is otherwise known as pitchers shoulder or rotator cuff tendonitis, and is common in athletes participating in sports that require lifting their arm over their head. That being said, if you work with your arms above shoulder height (like painting) or do regular heavy lifting, this might increase your risk of developing it too. Symptoms tend to start with a dull ache and decreased movement of the shoulder but may get worse over time.
Jumper’s knee
Jumper’s knee involves inflammation of the patella tendon, which connects your kneecap (patella) to your shin, and is caused by overuse of your knee joint. This is usually a sports-related injury linked to the contraction of the leg muscles together with the force of hitting the ground and may cause pain when jumping, running, walking or bending or straightening your leg.
Wrist tendonitis
Moving away from sports, wrist tendonitis is usually caused by simple, repetitive, everyday motions that put strain on the tendon over time, like playing golf or using a computer. If you’re experiencing pain and swelling in your wrist, it may be treated conservatively with ice, massage and chiropractic adjustments.
The good news is that most cases of tendonitis can be effectively treated with conservative physical therapy by your chiropractor, but there are a few things you can do to reduce your chance of developing it in the first place:
- Take it slow – build up your activity level over a period of time.
- Take a break – if you notice pain during a particular exercise, stop and rest. Pain is an indicator that something is not working well.
- Mix it up – if one activity or exercise causes pain, try something else.
- Focus on your form – improve your technique to prevent further injury.
- Stretch and tone – strengthen the muscles you use and stretch after exercising to maximise the range of motion of your joints.
- Work your space – adjust your chair, keyboard and desktop for your height arm length and tasks. Corrected ergonomics can go a long way in reducing your risk of developing tendonitis.
If your symptoms don’t improve, however, find a CASA-registered chiropractor close to you, here.
Dislaimer:
This blog post is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Tags :
jumper's knee, swimmer's shoulder, tendonitis, tennis elbow, wrist tendonitis
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