Orthopedic Animations
- 1. How do you treat a shoulder separation? Click here to view a video animation.
- 2. How do you treat chronic achilles or heel pain? Click here to view a video animation.
- 3. How do you treat a torn knee ligament (ACL)? Click here to view a video animation.
- 4. How do you treat chronic tendonitis? Click here to view a video animation.
- 5. How do you treat shoulder instability? Click here to view a video animation.
- 6. How do you treat a rotator cuff tear of the shoulder? Click here to view a video animation.
- 7. How do you manage a torn cartilage of the knee? Click here to view a video animation.
What is chronic tendonitis?
Tendonitis can be either acute (i.e. a temporary flare up) or chronic (i.e. long lasting). When tendonitis keeps recurring, it is called chronic tendonitis.
Tendons are composed of elastic-like tissue which connects our muscles to our bones. As we age, tendons tend to lose their elasticity through normal wear and tear. From time to time, a tendon will break or tear and scar tissue forms in the healing process. Scar tissue is not as flexible as tendon tissue and frequently causes pain and inflammation with continued use and motion. Most often the areas affected are elbows, knees, ankles, shoulders and feet.
Obviously it’s these parts of our anatomy that see repeated use during the course of a normal day. As we continue placing strain on an injured tendon, it doesn’t have an opportunity to heal properly. This is what leads to chronic tendonitis.
Age is only one of the underlying causes of chronic tendonitis. Athletes who are highly trained and in superb condition can also suffer from chronic tendonitis. Again, it is the repetitive motions required by a variety of sports that cause the condition to erupt. For example, repeated motion of the golfer’s swing or a pitcher’s throwing arm in baseball over the course of time can cause weakness in the tissue and lead to inflammation of the muscles and tendons. This is why it’s so important to do stretching exercises and warm ups prior to strenuous activity.
Left untreated, things can only get worse. Both acute and chronic tendonitis sometimes will result in a tear or rupture of the tendon. In this case, the physician will probably prescribe surgery, but only after more conservative measures have failed.
To learn more about chronic tendonitis treatment click on the preceding link.