Tendon Strain: It Can Affect Anyone
It is said that the most common injury caused by a tendon strain happens through misuse. More often than not, the injury is caused by some kind of sports injury. For instance, basketball players often suffer an injury to the Achilles tendon, which connects the anklebone to the muscles found in the calf muscle.
When such an injury takes place, usually rest of the body part is indicated, as is putting ice on it. The part is then often wrapped which offers some pain relief as well as preventing swelling. Finally, the injured part is elevated above the heart, if possible, as that too prevents swelling and minimizes the pain.
Injury from repetitive action can sometimes overstretch the tendon too quickly, while putting too much stress on the area. One instance may include that of a weightlifter working the tendon daily without paying attention to the warnings of pain. When the body needs to rest and repair itself, it will send out painful warnings. Tendon strain prevention is conditioning the body for such strain beforehand. This is the reason, stretching is essential even for professional dancers before a rehearsal or performance.
When someone has indeed suffered an injury or tendon strain, it’s often very easy to diagnose by looking at the loss of range of motion the patient is suffering. However, a physician needing further assessment may order required tests through the use of an MRI, ultrasound, or even x-rays. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) will usually be prescribed as well.
Once healed, through care of the affected area, or through surgery, a surgeon may advise the stretching and strengthening of the injured muscles through recommended daily exercises. Exercises are frequently done in warm water to prevent re-injury. Sometimes, it will be necessary to visit a physical therapist to ascertain that the exercises are done properly. The therapy involved may not just involve exercises either. It is common for ultrasound therapy, stretching, running and gait re-education, soft tissue massages to occur too, all depending on what caused the injury. Splints of various kinds are also used, as are local injections of cortisone as well as a numbing medicine may be injected also.
Physical therapy may comprise of strengthening exercises, ultrasound therapy, soft-tissue massage/mobilization, and stretching and also gait or running re-education. If the tendon strain was done to the Achilles tendon, the surgeon or doctor treating the patient may order appropriate shoes that properly fit your personal foot type. Also, the appropriate shoes may have to actually fit the particular activity. For example, running shoes are different from those used to play basketball. Having the appropriate shoe will prevent recurrence of the condition sometimes. Tendon strain accounts for as high as 50% of sports injuries, thus it may be very important to prevent them from happening.
Golfers elbow or tennis elbow is two examples of sports injuries, which occur by the misuse of the sporting equipment. The treatment for tendon strain is the same regardless of the type of sports that one may enjoy.
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