Tendinopathy (damage to tendons) is often called tendinitis. However, we now know that inflammation (‘itis’) is not a big component of tendinopathy. Tendinopathy effects three main groups. Elite athletes have overuse tendiopathies especially to the achilles tendon and patella (knee) tendon. Younger athletes also get growth tendiopathies to their hip region, knee region and heel regions (to complicate matters we call these injuries apophysitis).
The biggest group that have tendinopathies are middle aged (30-70) adults. They are often called different names in adults such as Shoulder bursitis, Tennis elbow and Bursitis of the hip region. Modern sports medicine science now consider these injuries are in many cases the result tendon dysfunction.
The principle causes of tendinopathies are degeneration, overuse and biomechanical abnormalities. At the Sports and Arthritis Clinic (SPARC) the Sports and Exercise Physicians have undergone specialiity training in the injury area of tendinopathy. We will identify which cause is applicable to your condition and manage this appropriately.
When identified tendinopathies are generally treated with some sort of pain control whilst undertaking the correct rehabilitation pathway. The rehabilitation pathway usually involves exercise programs which can often be done at home but also can b done under the instruction and direction of a physiotherapist/podiatrist. At SPARC we will endeavor to keep you moving as part of the treatment.
Other more speciality treatments are sometimes needed for tendionpathies. These include Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections and Corticosteroid (Cortisone) (CSI) injections. The specialists at SPARC can undertake these procedures at the Sports and Arthritis Clinic using their point-of-care (in room) ultrasound. Finally it should be stated that surgery is the very last line for any tendinopathy and is rarely indicated.
Common Tendinopathies (and other synonyms) that are best treated with a rehabilitation (exercise pathway) include tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, shoulder rotator cuff, shoulder bursitits, gluteal bursitis, patella tendinitis and bursitis, achilles tendinitis, adductor tendinitis, plantar fascititis