Tendinitis & Tendonosis
Types and Treatments
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What is a Tendon?
Is is quite common to confuse the functions of a tendon vs. ligament, but they are definitely not the same thing and perform very different functions for the body.
Tendons connect muscle to bone that help enable you to move. Ligaments connect bone to bone to help stabilize the joints.Tendons are tough yet flexible bands of fibrous tissue attach the skeletal muscles to the bones they move. They can be small, like the delicate, tiny bands in the hands, or large, like the heavy, ropelike cords that anchor the calf or thigh muscles.Tendons transmit the force of the contraction to the bone. Without tendons, you would not be able to move! There are approximately 4,000 tendons in the body.
The most commonly known tendons are:
- Achilles Tendons - This is the strongest tendon located on the outer most point of the lower leg, and most commonly known as it is named after the Greek god Achilles.
- Patellar Tendons - This tendon is a continuation of the powerful quadriceps tendon and is located at the knee joint. It is paramount to the stability of the knee joint, which is the most unstable joint in the body.
- Hand and Feet Tendons - There are tendons located on the upper and lower part of the fingers and toes.
- Elbow Tendons - The bending of the elbow is a result of the biceps muscle of the upper arm pulling on its tendon, which is attached across the elbow joint to the forearm.
Because tendons have a limited blood supply, they are prone to injury and can take a long time to heal.
Injuries to the Tendons
A tendon injury is often diagnosed as a tendinitis. Tendinitis implies that there is an inflammation, using Latin word roots, it translates literally as "an inflammation of the tendon." Inflammatory responses are often the result of an acute injury or a repetitive stress injury.
Doctors are now referring more to the term tendonosis, instead of tendinitis. Tendinosis refers to the chronic degeneration of a tendon, sometimes without inflammation. The main problem is failed healing of repeated minor injuries rather than inflammation.
 The Achilles tendon is the strongest and largest tendon in the body. It is active during most activities including walking, jumping, and swimming because it connects the calf muscles to the heel. This tendon can typically withstand a lot of activity, but can become inflamed and painful during periods of overuse. This is due to forces 8-10 times the body weight acting on the tendon during physical activity.
Generally, when you feel pain on the lower back of the heel it's due to the susceptibility for inflammation. When you feel pain pain higher on the Achilles, it's generally more muscular pain and less tendinitis.
Tennis Elbow
 The term Tennis Elbow was created shortly after the creation of modern tennis in 1873, over 125 years ago. Even though over half of tennis players will experience tennis elbow, the average person that experiences this condition is not a tennis player. Most often the injury results from excessive use of such tools or as a result of basic life activities such as using scissors, or shears, gardening, sports that involve lots of throwing, swimming, manual work that involves repetitive turning, or lifting of the wrist.
Golfer's Elbow
.jpg) Golfers elbow occurs when there is damage to the tendons around the elbow joint and forearm. Small tears, called micro tears, form in the tendons which control the movement of the forearm. They cause a restriction of movement, inflammation and pain. These micro tears eventually lead to the formation of scar tissue. If untreated, this scar tissue can put so much pressure on the muscles and nerves that they can cut off the blood flow and pinch the nerves responsible for controlling the muscles in the forearm.
Resource Articles
How to Heal Tennis Elbow and Golfer's Elbow
Dr. Sullivan's Recommendations
Approximately 30% of the patients at NOVA Chiropractic have been treated for tendon issues such as Achilles Tendinitis, Tennis Elbow, and Golfer's Elbow. For the Achilles Tendinitis, the Achilles works best if it's the right length. If it's too short - or too long - things may start to break down. Also, stability plays a very important role so having the proper or extra support in your shoes will help with the healing. Supporting and correcting your foundation, your feet, is important for most injuries in the body. If your looking for at home treatments, I recommend rest and ice, and also the trigger point stick to help loosen up that tendon. At the office, we typically treat Achilles Tendinitis with Graston Technique and laser therapy.
For Tennis and Golfers elbow also make sure your shoulders are flexible and have full range of motion. Often people that suffer from tendonitis in the elbow region also have a tight shoulder on the affected side. Having shoulder tightness puts additional stress on the injured elbow region.
Recommended stretches for tennis and golfer's elbow: Flexbar
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NOVA Chiropractic Blog Article:
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4 simple self-tests to assess your readiness + how to improve your foot strength, flexibility, sensitivity and skill.
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Note: The material provided in this newsletter is for informational purposes only. The opinions expressed herein may not always reflect the views of the NOVA Chiropractic, nor do they imply an endorsement.
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8992 Fern Park Drive
Burke, VA 22015
703-912-7822
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Mon 8:00 - Noon 2:00 - 7:00
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The Latest & Greatest at NOVA Chiropractic
The laser has proven to help dozens of patients at NOVA Chiropractic! Common conditions with current patients that laser therapy is helping to heal are:
- Herniated discs
- Knee arthritis
- Carpel tunnel syndrome
- Achilles tendinitis
- Neck and back pain
- and much more!
For more information, call 703-912-7822 or email info@novachirowellness.com
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Bell Peppers
Bell pepper is not only an excellent source of carotenoids, but also a source of over 30 different members of the carotenoid nutrient family. It is rich in Vitamin C, which is a nutrient known to enhance the body's ability to heal tendinitis.
If you want to maximize the availability of vitamin C and carotenoids from bell pepper, allow this amazing vegetable to ripen.
In one recent study, the vitamin C in not-fully-ripe bell peppers continued to increase during home storage over a period of about 10 days.
Recipe:
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