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TENDON
INJURY
A
tendon is just a connector, like a piece of string, between
the part of the muscle that contracts and the bone to which
it attaches. Tendons only need a small amount of nourishment
and therefore they only have a minimal blood supply. This
means that when a tendon is damaged it doesn't have a good
blood supply to help it to heal quickly.
When a tendon is
damaged fluid seeps out of torn fibres and causes localised
swelling. This works like glue squeezed from a tube; the glue
tries to repair the damage and in its enthusiasm sticks everything
to everything else. The individual fibres of the tendon which
are normally free to glide slightly one on the other become
stuck together and are then irritated by the pull of even
the slightest contraction in the muscle. It is important to
assess what activity or movement causes the pain so that the
patient can do this activity and movement as little as possible
so as not to aggravate the problem.
See: RSI, Golfers elbow, Tennis
elbow, Supraspinatus tendonitis, Tenosynovitis.
TREATMENT
Rest is always a sensible treatment in the acute stage. Tendon
injuries are not conditions that you can exercise through.
By using Manual Lymph Drainage
and
Connective Tissue Manipulation
techniques the circulation can be improved. Tension in the
connective tissue decreases and the adhesions between the
fibres in the tendon are softened. This restores painless
movement as the tendon fibres glide over each other. Once
the pain has reduced, a programme of personal exercises designed
for the patient to help the muscles regain their strength.
It is important that the activity which caused the problem
is not resumed until the whole area is looser, the area is
completely pain free and the muscles have regained their strength
otherwise the problem will just recur.
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