Tendon strain is a common injury that can occur from misuse, most often from a sports injury. For instance, the Achilles tendon that connects the anklebone to the calf muscles are most often injured by basketball players.
Generally, this injury is treatable by resting the area and occasional applications of ice pack. To help prevent swelling and relieve pain this area is generally wrapped securely, but not overly tight. You can also relieve pain and swelling by elevating the area while resting.
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.
After healing from surgery, through care is essential. A surgeon may suggest the stretching and strengthening with a daily exercise regimen for the injured muscles. Most often, exercises are done while in warm water to help prevent re-injuring the area. Sometimes you may need to visit a physical therapist to help ensure the proper maneuvers of such exercises. Therapy may involve more than just exercises. Depending on the cause of the injury, the use of soft tissue massages, stretching, running and gait re-education, or ultrasound therapy may be necessary. Various types of splints may be necessary or even the use of cortisone injections or perhaps a medicine for numbing the area may be required.
Soft-tissue massage or mobilization, stretching and strengthening exercises, gait or running re-education or even ultrasound therapy may be included in the physical therapy. Your physician or surgeon may suggest wearing special made shoes to aid in the healing of Achilles tendon injuries and these shoes may be suitable for certain activities, such as basketball or running shoes. Wearing these shoes may help to prevent a reoccurring injury or condition. It is vital to try to prevent such injuries that involve tendon strain since fifty percent of these injuries occur while playing sports.
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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