Tendonitis
Tendons are a flexible band of fibrous tissue which connects muscles to bones. When a muscle contracts the tendon applies force to the bone and movement is produced.
Sudden forces through a tendon may produce an inflammatory reaction as part of the healing response. Chronic overuse of tendons can also lead to inflammation and microscopic tears in tissue. This weakens the tendon over time with the potential for a full thickness tear.
Inflammation of the tendon may create tenderness to palpation directly over the tendon, pain with contraction of the specific muscle, and swelling in the surrounding tissues.
Tendons have a poor vascular supply and when there is inflammation the blood flow can be decreased to the injured area. The body then develops tight scar tissue which fatigues easily.
Physical therapy treatments for tendonitis include pain relieving modalities, soft tissue mobilization/massage such as cross friction and ASTYM (augmented soft tissue mobilization), neuromuscular reeducation, conditioning exercises to help increase blood flow, strength and endurance, and patient education to help avoid recurrence.