The flexor muscles and tendons of the human body act to reduce the angle between the bones making up a joint. The type of therapy used on injuries to the flexor tendons depends on the degree of injury and the stage of healing. The inflammation period for tendons lasts about three days, although a tendon may take as long as three months to heal and up to one year to regain its strength.
Biceps Ice and Stretch
The bicep brachii muscle flexes the elbow joint. The tendon closest to the shoulder joint can become aggravated and inflamed from excessive overloading during curling exercises or overhead movement. The pain resulting from tendinitis may decrease the strength of this elbow flexor. Treat biceps tendonitis by first straightening the patient's arm with her shoulder nearly 90 degrees out to her side and her palm rotated upward, giving her muscles a gentle stretch. Then, use a styrofoam cup that has been filled with water and frozen and run the ice along the origin of the bicep tendon at the shoulder, down the biceps muscle and halfway down her forearm, according to Peggy Houglum in her book, Therapeutic Exercise for Musculoskeletal Injuries.
Flexor Digitorum Putty Exercises
The flexor tendons of the wrist that bend the fingers toward a patient's elbow are surrounded by connective tissue designed to protect and nourish the tendons. Overuse of the wrist and finger flexors such as in typing or carrying heavy objects can cause inflammation within the tunnel and compress the median nerve, a condition referred to as carpal tunnel syndrome, according to Sandra Shultz and colleagues in their book, Examination of Musculoskeletal Injuries. Once pain subsides, bend a large ball of putty into a circle with a handle. Instruct the patient to first hold the handle with his uninjured hand then insert the fingers between his thumb and pinky into the hole, palm facing up. Next, pull on the putty drawing his fingers toward the shoulder. Therapeutic putty come in several tension levels; increase the resistance of the putty as the patient's strength improves.
Hamstring Passive Stretching
The hamstring muscles flex the knee, drawing a patient's foot toward her buttocks. The inserting tendon just below the knee joint is typically injured during sprints or sudden changes in muscle action. After two days of icing a sprain, the patient is ready for light stretching. The patient performs a passive stretch by lying on her back with the ankle of the injured leg resting on a rolled up pillow or towel; keep the uninjured leg bent with the foot flat on the table. Instruct the patient to relax as gravity pushes down on her injured knee, stretching her hamstrings. If the patient does not experience pain, add a one to two-pound ankle weight just above her knee or just below her knee. Begin with a 15-second stretch, gradually progressing to 15 minutes as treatment continues, according to Houglum.
References
- "Anatomy & Physiology"; Gary Thibodeau, Ph.D. and Kevin Patton, Ph.D.; 2007
- "Therapeutic Exercise for Musculoskeletal Injuries"; Peggy Houglum; 2005
- "Examination of Musculoskeletal Injuries"; Sandra Shultz, Peggy Houglum and David Perrin; 2005
