Aging isn’t for the weak of heart. Our bodies change as we age, and at times it may seem as if new medical ailments pop up overnight like mysterious bruises, swelling, or areas that become stiff. Adults have 206 bones in our bodies which are anchored to muscles by tissue that can account for some of the aches and pains we feel. These dense fibrous tissues are called tendons.
Tendons play a major part in several large joints like the shoulder, elbow, knee, and even ankle. These joints regularly get heavy abuse as we move through our day-to-day lives. Two of the biggest issues that affect tendons are tendinitis and tendinosis.
Tendinitis is a fancy way of saying that your tendon is inflamed. Inflammation can often begin without you even noticing it and be quite painful. Pain associated with tendinitis is usually present when you move the affected joint. People who also suffer from ‘flat feet’, tight tendons or arthritis are prone to this condition.
Here are the top four reasons tendons become inflamed:
· Injury
· Overuse
· Improper stretching
· Incorrect form
Tendinosis is the thickening of a tendon and is often characterized by the formation of a lump along the length of the tissue. This can result from prolonged inflammation to the tendon. If pain persists longer than a week medical attention should be sought as both conditions can potentially result in further damage (tearing/gaping) which could hinder movement even more.
Symptoms of these conditions include:
Swelling that impairs movement
Intense pain during movement
Joint stiffness
Grating/cracking sensation with movement
Weakness in the affected area
You don’t have to be a Greek hero to appreciate how painful tendon problems can be. Many adults suffer from a tendon condition of the thumb or ring finger called trigger finger which causes the joint to become ‘locked’ and painful to move. Tennis elbow is another common tendon problem that active people can suffer from. A 2014 study done by Harvard Health revealed that Achilles tendonitis accounts for 15% of all running-related injuries.
Tendinitis and tendinosis can be difficult problems to overcome. Rest, ice, and some medications such as NSAIDS are often proscribed to help alleviate symptoms and allow the body to heal. Even with traditional treatments such as these the healing process can be long and drawn out as these treatments do not kick start your body’s ability to heal itself.
One treatment option that is available that can help decrease tendon inflammation, penetrate thickened tissue, and manage pain is laser therapy. By using light energy to penetrate the problem joint and tendon area, patients can heal 30-40% quicker with none of the side effects or pain associated with traditional healing methods.
As always, we hope this blog has helped shed light on tendon health. Should you decide you’d like more information on the healing benefits of MLS laser therapy, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you for reading and we hope you #livepainfree!
