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YOU SAID TENDINITIS ?
Literary search and editing by CATCM's team

The tendinitis is not reserved only to big athletic one. How to recognize it? What to do? When to consult? How to cure... What is necessary to know in 10 key points!

Halt with overwork

The tendinitis corresponds to an inflammation of the tendons, had with overwork or micro-traumatisms. The tendons are fibrous structures ensuring the junction of the muscle with the bone and which is not very extensible (from 4 to 8% maximum). The rupture of some fibers is enough to start an inflammatory reaction.

Who says inflammation, says pain

The pain can arise gradually, at rest or with the effort. But sometimes, it is a simple constraint or a limitation of the movements when the tendinitis is important. It irradiates sometimes to the muscle, which becomes itself painful. The pain is found with palpation on the level of a muscular insertion and the opposed action of the muscle.

But remember that in general, the symptoms are as follows:

  • local pain,
  • signs of inflammation (very hot zone, swelled, red and sensitive to the touch),
  • difficulty of stirring up the member affected.

When to consult?

  • the pain and/or the inflammation last more than one week.
  • the pain and the inflammation return regularly.
  • the pain is very sharp.

Attention with the rupture!
The pain and impotence can be such, as one can fear a fracture, a tendinous or muscular tear. If it is the case, stop everything, make a binding to immobilize the member and go to the hospital. There, an x-ray will make it possible to check if there is fracture and, if necessary, an ultra-sound will be able to highlight tendinous lesions.

How to cure?
Cure may be fast or take several months even a year. Rest (or modulation of the activities according to cases') is essential. Doctors prescribes anti-inflammatory drugs and, if necessary, corticoid infiltrations in the large majority of the cases. In the event of traumatism, one uses sometimes a splint to immobilize the member affected. If the problem persists, physiotherapy (ultrasounds, lasers and electrical currents) is considered. Then, Kinesitherapy is often necessary. And finally, in certain cases, the surgical treatment is essential.

Epicondylitis and company
The most frequent tendinitises are those of the shoulder, but one can also suffer from it to the ankles, the wrists, the hands, the knees, the feet, the hips and the elbows.

When working is risky
The tendinitises generally occur of course with the athletic ones, but certain professions, who require repetitive gestures (garden, masons, diggers, musicians, painters, computer usage,...), can also be at the risk.

What is to do!

  • To rest.
  • To apply ice two to three times per day to the significant zone.
  • To await the disappearance of the pain.
  • To take again the sparring slowly while making with the precondition of exercises that contribute to heat your muscles.
  • To follow a treatment based on anti-inflammatory drugs and, possibly, corticoids in infiltration.

What one should not do!

  • To continue the effort or the sparring when the tendinitis is declared.
  • To stretch the muscles brutally.

Eliminate the conflicts
The tendinitises result from a conflict of the sportsman with the practiced discipline, the material employed or environment.

External causes:

  • The quality of the grounds (badly maintained ground or track),
  • Changes of surface, an unsuited material or badly regulated.
  • Independent causes of external factors:
  • Disorders of static (spinal column, lower limbs),
  • Changes and lack of style,
  • Abadly led drive,
  • The age (ageing of the tendons, the risk increases as from 40 years),
  • Hygienic-dietetic errors (bad dental state, bad hydration).

To know.
Be wary of the infections. Indeed, an opened wound, while allowing the microorganism to infiltrate under the skin, can cause a tendinitis in the wounded zone. The pain is sometimes such as it prevents from being occupied with the normal occupations.

 

 

 

 

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