Tendinitis is a condition characterized by irritation or inflammation in bands of connective tissue called tendons, which join your muscles to their associated bones. If you develop this condition, certain forms of exercise or physical therapy can help alleviate your symptoms. Proper exercise may also keep tendinitis from recurring.
Tendinitis Basics
While you can develop tendinitis in any tendon in your body, the most common locations for the ailment include your wrists, heels, elbows and shoulders, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Potential causes of the condition include overuse, traumatic injury and loss of elasticity as a consequence of normal aging. You can also develop tendinitis if you have certain other illnesses that affect systems throughout your body, including diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Frequently, the pain of tendinitis occurs at nighttime or worsens when you engage in various forms of physical activity.
Initial Treatments
Initial treatment of tendinitis typically involves resting your affected joint, Medline Plus notes. In some cases, you may need to immobilize your joint with a removable brace or splint. Additional steps in initial treatment of the disorder include the application of heat or cold to your affected joint and use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen. In some cases, your doctor may also use direct injections of steroid medications to lower your tendinitis-related pain enough to allow for the start of physical therapy.
Physical Therapy Exercises
Physical therapy for tendinitis involves exercises that stretch and strengthen your tendons, Medline Plus explains. Proper performance of these exercises can improve the healing process, help restore normal function to your joints and prevent future attacks. If you have tendinitis in your heel's Achilles tendon, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons notes, your doctor or therapist may ask you to perform strengthening exercises that require you to simultaneously lengthen and contract your calf muscle. If you have tendinitis in your shoulder, therapy may involve range-of-motion exercises. Ask your doctor or therapist about specific exercises for tendinitis in various parts of your body.
Exercise and Prevention
Modification of your current exercise routine can help prevent tendinitis, the Mayo Clinic reports. Modifications may include stretching before exercising, avoiding activities that place prolonged strain on your tendons, taking steps to improve your exercise technique, varying the exercises you include in your daily routine and strengthening your muscles to improve their resistance to exercise stress. If activities associated with your job place significant strain on your joints or tendons, adjustments to your work station or work routine can also alleviate or help prevent tendinitis.
Considerations
If you have severe tendinitis, you may need surgery to reverse your symptoms, the Mayo Clinic notes. Medline Plus lists potential complications of tendinitis that include recurrence of symptoms after treatment and long-term tendon inflammation that places you at risk for more serious injuries. Individuals with tendinitis often also have a form of tendon degeneration called tendinosis. Consult your doctor for more information on exercises for tendinitis.
