TENDINOPATHY
Tendon problems (tendinopathy) include many things. A tendon can be inflamed (tendinitis), show evidence of chronic damage (tendinosis) or have partial and complete tearing. There can also be areas with prior damage that have not healed well (calcific tendinopathy). The wide array of tendon issues often require different treatment strategies to help you heal.
For an acute tendon injury, treatments typically start with the aim to reduce pain and inflammation. Ways to achieve this include physical therapy with acupuncture, ART (active release treatments), laser/ultrasound, icing and medication. You should progress to increasing mobility work and a gradual eccentric strengthening program. The type of program you work towards will be different for every tendon.
In the setting of chronic tendinopathy, a different approach is sometimes needed. This can include ultrasound-guided procedures like needle lavage or a platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection.
Dr. Eardley specializes in both acute and chronic tendon injuries. Together, we can come up with a treatment plan to get you back in the game.