What is Acute Tendinitis?

What is Chronic Tendinitis?

Treatment for Acute Tendinitis

Factors Affecting Severity

Treatment for Tendinitis

Symptomatic Relief

Prevention of Tendinitis

The treatment I recommend for an acute tendinitis or muscle strain is as follows:

Rest the injured area as much as possible for 3-5 days. (e.g., Do not walk on your injured ankle.) Since muscles are more easily injured then ligaments, what is usually referred to as a sprain (ligament injury) is most often just a strain (muscle injury). Sometimes there is some ligament injury as well as muscle strain.

Ice the area frequently to reduce inflammation and pain. Just prior to going to sleep is the best time because fluid accumulates in your tissues while sleeping. This leads to increased pressure and pain to the injured area. Apply the ice for 15-20 minutes at a time with at least 30 minutes between applications. Always place a cloth between your skin and the ice pack. Going to sleep with a reusable blue ice pack applied is safe because it warms up in about 20 minutes. Never go to sleep with a regular ice pack applied.

Use a vibrating massager often to reduce inflammation and increase blood flow.

Lightly massage the muscle 2 or 3 times a day for a few minutes each time. Apply a good body lotion and massage along the muscle fibers, moving toward the muscle's attachment. No more than a mild amount of pain should be felt.

Gently stretch the injured muscle. Slowly stretch and hold for 30-60 seconds. Do not use any fast or jerky movement. Stretching can be done 5-10 times daily but do not overdo it.

If desired, moist heat can be used 48-72 hours after the injury. If soaking in a warm bath, Epsom salt or another product developed for treating muscle strains could be added to the water.

Following these guidelines should prevent fibrotic adhesions from forming. If you often experience an acute strain to the same area, the muscle probably already has a lot of adhesions. In this case, follow the upcoming instructions included in treatment for chronic tendinitis.