Tendonitis is a very common condition and is caused by inflammation and irritation of the tendons, which are thick tissues that attach muscle to bone. It occurs most often in the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees and ankles.
Also, these conditions are caused by the overuse of a joint or because of direct injury; often happens in the knee or elbow. Commonly, two forms of tendonitis affecting the elbow: lateral epicondylitis and medial epicondylitis; both are overuse injuries and are common among athletes practicing throwing sports or using rackets.
There are various types of tendonitis in your hands. One is the inflammation of the tendon sheath in the tendons of the thumb, which prevents extension or flexion of the affected finger and may lock suddenly. The wrist injury is called De Quervain syndrome affects the tendons and cause pain at the base of the thumb; usually it leads to an alteration in the function of the hand, reducing performance for everyday tasks.
On the other hand, in the lower limbs tendonitis is called jumper’s knee in the most common form affect the tendon on the bottom of the kneecap; it is caused by overuse, especially in basketball players and runners.
The heel tendonitis affects the Achilles tendon and is usually caused by repetitive actions; especially in sports that require jumping constantly and represents 15% of all running injuries.
One way to prevent its occurrence is to avoid incorrect postures, repetitive and frequent movements for a long time and overloading the arms and legs. It is also advisable to keep muscles strong and flexible; for this we must exercise the upper and lower extremities, without excessively repeating the same movement. Therefore, it is recommended to prevent various kinds of inclinations alternating with small intervals of rest and recuperation.
However, there are different treatments to try to cure tendonitis. Therapy applying cold and heat in the early stages of the disease is advised; while heat therapy produces more benefit to ease the pain. This is simply applying cold of hot compresses or water bags on the affected parts.
In some cases we will choose to immobilize the tendon with bandages or orthopedic devices. If the inflammation is caused by overuse of the affected area, this will be used to ensure the rest to avoid aggravating the problem.
It is important to have a diet rich in vegetables, the consumption of food containing magnesium, silicon and Omega 3 supplements; contribute to strengthen muscles and tendons and have a anti-inflammatory effect. A healthy lifestyle is your best choice to prevent tendonitis!
ALFA