Tendonitis

Tendonitis is a term describing irritation and inflammation of a tendon, most commonly resulting from overuse or an injury. Your tendons are the fibrous structures that attach your muscles to bones. They are meant to be flexible and elastic. However, when they have been pushed to the limit, micro-tearing of the collagen fibers in the tendon can occur. This causes joint pain, swelling, decreased range of motion, heat, redness, and often a lumpy or uneven feeling in the tendon.

Some common activities that can cause tendonitis include computer use, manufacturing jobs, painting, raking, throwing, gardening, golf, and tennis. As people age the tendons become less elastic and are at greater risk of inflammation and injury. Some tendons in the body are more prone to injury than others, and account for tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, Achilles tendonitis, trigger finger, shoulder pain, knee pain, and pain at the base of the thumb.

While tendonitis is not life threatening, it can affect one’s quality of life. It can be painful, take a long time to heal, and over time the tendon tissue can degenerate to the point that it calcifies and creates bony spurs. Traditional treatment for tendonitis includes resting the affected area, ice, over the counter anti-inflammatory or pain medications, physical therapy, steroid injections, and in extreme cases, surgery.

Research has found that acupuncture provides natural pain relief for individuals with tendonitis. In addition to improving pain, acupuncture also accelerates the healing time of tendonitis. Acupuncture improves tendonitis through the following mechanisms:

• Acupuncture increases the circulation of your body’s own pain-relieving opioids and chemically blocks the transmission of pain signals going to your brain.
• Acupuncture increases the circulation of blood and nutrients to the inflamed or damaged tissue. 
• Acupuncture increases the body’s production of naturally occurring anti-inflammatory agents at the local site where the acupuncture needle is inserted.

While tendonitis is known to heal slowly, acupuncture, heat therapy, and myofascial release are effective tools that Chinese medicine has to offer to accelerate the healing process. Following an anti-inflammatory diet, taking anti-inflammatory supplements, and modifying any physical activities that aggravate the tendonitis are also helpful. If you have tendonitis it is important to address the issue during the acute phase to prevent long term damage to the affected tendon. Please contact our clinic if you would like to try holistic medicine to address tendonitis you may be experiencing.