Traditional pain management has been proven to be a poor substitute for massage therapy. It can ease pain and hasten recovery for those with tendonitis. Since tendonitis can take weeks to heal, using a massage therapy program to calm down and strengthen the inflamed tendon can increase the likelihood of a full and quick recovery for the patient.

What is Tendonitis?

Your muscles are joined to your bones by this sturdy connective tissue. Tendons are present anywhere there is a joint. You have tendonitis when the tendon becomes irritated or becomes extremely inflamed. Elbows, biceps, neck, knees, wrists, and Achilles tendonitis are the most frequently affected areas.

When the tendon is overused, as when playing the violin or tennis professionally, it typically becomes inflamed. But this is not the only reason for tendonitis. The tendons can also become irritated by lifting heavy weights or using poor form while exercising.

When you experience a burning or piercing pain in the joints, swelling, tenderness, muscle weakness, and/or a grinding sensation when the joint moves, you have tendonitis.

Contrary to muscles, tendons hardly have any veins to supply them with nutrients from fresh blood that will help them heal. Consequently, the healing process for tendons may be lengthy. Depending on the extent of the damage, 2 to 6 weeks. Just try not using your arm for two to six weeks. There’s a good chance that won’t happen. This may result in the formation of scar tissue, which prolongs the healing process of tendonitis.

Symptoms of Tendonitis

Symptoms of tendonitis may include the following:

• Pain
• Tenderness
• Muscle weakness
• Stiffness or restricted mobility
• Swelling around the affected area
• Warmth of the skin around the affected area
• a grating sensation as the tendon moves.

How Massage Can Manage Tendonitis

Rest, icing, stopping any activity that contributed to the tenderness in the first place, heavy lifting, and anti-inflammatory medication are typically used as treatments for tendonitis.

Along with these conventional treatment options, tendonitis patients are increasingly turning to massage therapy, which is both popular and successful. This is so that the injured tendon fibers and nearby muscle tissue can be targeted and worked by massage. As a result, the muscles in and around the affected area become more loose and the blood flow and healthy collagen are improved.

Chronic tendonitis can have a significant impact on a person’s mobility, comfort, and quality of life, which can increase stress and depressive symptoms. By calming and relaxing a person’s nervous system and promoting the release of feel-good hormones, massage therapy can help to reduce not only the physical pain associated with tendonitis but also any emotional pain as well. There are many different types of massage out there, but the best ones for tendonitis include the following:

Sports Massage

Treatment for tendonitis pain with sports massage therapy is successful in reducing and eliminating pain. For those who have tendonitis in their Achilles or heel, it is especially beneficial. In order to stretch and stimulate the muscles, sports massage combines various massage techniques with muscle manipulation. By continuously pressing and rubbing the tendon, it can treat tendonitis and reduce pain and restriction of motion.

Deep Transverse Friction Massage (DTFM)

A trained massage therapist will perform a DTFM massage by moving their fingers in quick, back-and-forth motions around the sore area rather than over it. This kind of active release technique is a soft tissue management therapy that is used to heal scarred tissue, treat abrasions, and regain mobility.

Deep Tissue Massage

The best type of massage for treating tendonitis may be deep tissue massage. To treat chronic pain, it combines firm pressure with slow strokes to penetrate the deep layers of muscle and fascia. This procedure improves circulation and breaks up scar tissue, which can also lessen swelling.

How to Find the Right Massage Therapist for Tendonitis

You might find relief from massage therapy if your tendonitis is chronic or persistent. Nevertheless, a word of caution: it’s best to avoid scheduling a massage within 48 hours of the injury’s initial onset as this could make it worse. In addition, it’s crucial to understand that massage therapy should be used in conjunction with other common tendonitis treatments. The best outcomes come from a pain management regimen that includes massage therapy, rest, icing, pain medication, and rest.

It’s important to conduct research to find the best massage therapist for tendonitis. You must locate a therapist who is certified in massage therapy, has experience with injuries, and specializes in sports massage therapy. To help you increase strength and range of motion in the injured tendon and stop further injury and inflammation, a qualified massage therapist should be prepared to talk about treatment goals and an ongoing treatment plan.

What is the Difference Between Tendonitis and Tendinopathy?

Even though tendonitis and tendinopathy often result from overuse or unexpected stress on a tendon, they are two distinct medical conditions with nearly identical symptoms. In contrast to tendinopathy, which is the degeneration of the collagen protein that makes up the tendon, tendonitis is the inflammation of the tendon. For both conditions, preventative measures are possible; however, tendinopathy may necessitate physical therapy for a full recovery.

It can often take months or even years to fully recover after tendon surgery. Additionally, it may be challenging for tendons to obtain the nutrients required for repair because they heavily rely on lubricating joint fluid for nutrition. This is particularly true when pain and inflammation prevent movement and lymphatic drainage. Implement these practices into your daily routine if you suffer from tendonitis or want to take preventative care:

Ice: Ice can help ease pain and swelling in the injured area if you suffer a sudden injury to a tendon.

Elevate: Elevation aids in the drainage of extra fluid from the injury site, which helps to lessen pain and swelling. You should elevate the injured limb above your heart level to achieve the best results from elevation.

Strength Train: Increasing mobility while lowering the risk of tendon injury is made possible by strengthening the muscles that attach to the tendons and stretching them after warming up.

Massage Therapy: Massage of the injured tendon’s surrounding skin and muscle will increase blood flow to the area, reduce swelling, relax tense muscles, and break up scar tissue that may restrict motion.

Bottom Line

It’s important to take tendon injuries seriously because neglecting them can result in chronic tendonitis and tendinosis. As we discussed, performing routine daily activities can cause tendons to become injured. Taking action should be a top priority if and when that occurs.

The effectiveness of tendonitis massage in treating and promoting long-term health has been repeatedly demonstrated. We can perform tendonitis massage at home, even though for some of us, getting regular massages or physical therapy is out of the question financially.

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