Tendon injuries can be both perplexing and debilitating. If you’ve ever felt a sharp pain, stiffness, or swelling around a joint, especially after repetitive activity, you might be dealing with a tendon issue. At Tim Wood Healthcare, our dedicated team in Rainham and Maidstone has vast experience with these conditions. Let’s dive deeper into understanding tendon injuries and how we, as osteopaths, aim to help our patients.
What is a Tendon Injury?
Tendons are the robust fibrous structures that attach muscles to bones. When they’re overused or subjected to high levels of stress, tendons can become irritated or inflamed. This condition is commonly referred to as tendinitis. Another common tendon injury is tendinosis – this is characterised by tiny tears in the tendon, usually from long-term wear and tear.
Causes and Symptoms
Tendon injuries often result from overuse, inadequate rest between physical activities, poor technique during sports or exercises, or sometimes due to an underlying anatomical issue. Symptoms may include:
- Pain and tenderness near a joint.
- Stiffness or limited movement in the surrounding area.
- Swelling or a lump along the tendon.
How We Approach Tendon Injuries at Tim Wood Healthcare
Your Osteopathic Case History: When you come to us, our priority is to understand your pain. We’ll start with a detailed case history, noting previous injuries and key factors. This helps us identify what might be contributing to the discomfort.
Your Osteopathic Examination: Our examination is comprehensive. By employing neurological, orthopaedic, and osteopathic tests, we reach a diagnosis. Importantly, we don’t just focus on the injury. We assess the whole body, understanding that an issue in one area might influence another.
Your Osteopathic Treatment: Our hands-on treatment is gentle and tailored to each patient’s age, fitness level, and specific diagnosis. By stretching, moving, and manipulating muscles, nerves, joints, and other soft tissue, we focus on alleviating tension, tightness, and pain.
Your Exercises: We believe that combining hands-on treatment with exercises and lifestyle advice is most effective. We provide written or video resources, ensuring you have guidance at your fingertips.
Prevention and Management
Proper management of tendon injuries is crucial. Here are some general guidelines:
- Rest the affected area.
- Apply cold packs to reduce swelling.
- Wear braces or supports if advised.
- Follow the tailored exercises given by your osteopath.
If you believe you have a tendon injury or any other discomfort, it’s crucial to consult with a professional. Our team in Rainham and Maidstone is ready to assist. With a combination of decades of experience and a welcoming approach, we take pride in helping our community move towards a pain-free life.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What should I wear for my appointment?: Consider wearing loose-fitting garments for your comfort, especially if we need to assess the affected area.
Is the treatment painful?: We strive to ensure that osteopathy is gentle. Some slight discomfort might be felt, but we’re always in dialogue with our patients, ensuring their comfort.
Do I need to tell my GP before coming?: There’s no obligation to inform your GP before consulting with us, but you can if you’d like.
In conclusion, tendon injuries, while common, shouldn’t be ignored. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial. At Tim Wood Healthcare, our osteopaths are ready to provide great care and advice. If you’re searching for an experienced “osteopath near me” in Rainham and Maidstone, our doors are always open. Your well-being is our mission.
