Occasionally an athlete will put undue stress on tendons and joints during a training program and when this happens, there is the risk that the individual may develop a case of tendonitis. Tendonitis occurs when a tendon rubs repeatedly over a joint, causing friction. The friction in turn causes soreness and inflammation. This can be a painful condition, which causes stiffness and can limit mobility.
Tendonitis is often found in the knees and elbows. However there are cases where the condition also affects the shoulders and fingers as well. It all comes down to what kind of activity you are involved in. While a trip to the doctor is always a good idea, there are a few things you can do to treat tendonitis yourself.
Tendonitis Treatment and Recovery
The most important thing that you need to do is limit the activity that is causing the inflammation in the first place. Take it easy and rest. Even if you try to proceed and play through the pain, you will only aggravate the condition further. The only way to get it to heal is to stop using it.
Along the way to recovery, you will want to make sure that you ice the area on a regular basis. This has been shown in multiple studies to speed up healing time and to reduce inflammation. Ibuprofen can be used to combat discomfort and inflammation as well.
Once you are back in the game, you will need to be careful at first to make sure that you do not re-aggravate the condition. There could be a mechanical problem that is causing you to make an unnatural movement. These repeated movements that are not bio-mechanically efficient increase the likelihood and severity of tendonitis.
If you think that this may be what is causing your problem, then you should see a sports medical professional and have them help you analyze your movements. Whether it be your running stride, your pitching motion, or your tennis swing, a few minor adjustments may make a world of difference in how you feel and how well you are able to perform following your recovery period.
As stated above, there are some at home steps that you can take to reduce the symptoms of tendonitis, but if it is a recurring problem, then you should see a doctor. What you are diagnosing as tendonitis could be something more severe like ligament or cartilage damage. These are injuries that need to be treated professionally and which may require surgery to repair.
Plenty of rest and ice should help with speeding you along to recovery from tendonitis. Within a week or so, you should see a marked improvement. However, be sure to wait a few days before jumping back into your usual routine. You want to make sure that your tendonitis is fully healed or else you will cause the condition to return.