How Do Tendon Injuries Occur?
The most common site of tendon injuries is in the ankle, knee, or elbow joints. A tendon injury affects the touch fibers that connect muscles to bones. One of the larger tendons is called the Achilles tendon. This connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. Tendon injuries most commonly occur near the joints. The shoulders can also be affected. While it may appear that a tendon injury may suddenly occur, they’re usually the result of smaller tears to the tendon that have occurred over time.
Different Types of Injuries Affecting the Tendon
There are different types of injuries that affect the tendon. Tendinitis is inflammation of the tendon. Tendinosis is when tiny tears occur in the tissue in and around the tendons. This is usually caused by overuse. Tendinopathy is a term used today that’s related to when tendons may have inflammation or microtears. But you may still hear doctors use the word tendinitis, as people are most familiar with the term.
Causes of Tendon Injuries
Tendon injuries are most commonly caused the by the gradual wear and tear of a tendon over time. This may be due to overuse from sports or from aging. This type of injury can affect anyone. If you’ve been making the same types of movements over time in your work or your sporting activities, then you could be more prone to damaging a tendon in your body. A tendon injury can happen quickly, or take some time to develop.
Signs of a Tendon Injury
The first sign of a tendon injury can be pain or stiffness. You may experience a loss of movement or strength in that region. The pain may worsen if you use a specific tendon. You may feel more pain later in the evening or first thing when you wake up in the morning.
If there is inflammation around the region of injury, it may also feel tender. It can also be a red color, or feel warm to the touch. There may be swelling at the site. If you move the tendon you may hear or feel a crunchy sound.
Tendon Injury Treatments
Tendon injuries are usually treated at home, but a sports therapy clinic can also assist with the treatment process. Physical therapy may need to be done. In only extreme cases is surgery required.
It can take several weeks or months for a tendon injury to heal. Its important to stay focused and stick to a treatment plan so that the injury won’t worsen over time.
