Tendinopathy

Tendinitis, Tendinosis, or Tenosynovitis?

Tendinopathy refers to any injury to your tendon. The suffix "pathy" means suffering or disease, therefore tendinopathy is a general term that can describe any condition of a tendon. To be more specific about the type of injury that has occurred in a tendon, the terms tendonitis (also spelled tendinitis), tendinosis, and tenosynovitis are used.

Tendinosis

The term tendinosis refers to the non-inflammatory, degeneration of the collagen fibers in a tendon. This tissue break down is often caused by repetitive stress on the tendon fibers and the failure for the fibers to heal. In fact, the rate of tissue damage exceeds the healing process and eventually the accumulation of damage on the tendon is not able to heal properly. The collagen fibers deteriorate to a point where the once straight, strong, flexible bundle is weakened by abnormally formed fibers that look more like a mess of strands.

Since there is no inflammation with tendinosis you will not experience swelling, heat or redness. However, you will experience pain, tenderness and stiffness at the back of the ankle where the tissue degeneration has occurred.

Tendinitis

The suffix "itis" means something is inflamed, therefore, the term tendinitis (tendonitis) is used when a tendon is inflamed. Inflammation in a tendon is often due to irritation and/or micro-tearing of the collagen fibers. When the fibers tear, they become weaker, inflamed and swollen causing pain and tenderness in the area.

There are 2 types of tendonitis, acute and chronic. Acute tendonitis refers to inflammation that comes on suddenly, usually from a tendon strain or overloading it during exercise. Chronic tendonitis occurs over time and generally results from long term repetitive use of the tendon.

With both types of tendinitis, scar tissue develops on the tendon as the tears begin to heal. This scar tissue mends the tears in an abnormal way leaving the collagen fibers weaker and more prone to further injury. In the case of chronic tendinitis a node of scar tissue may form and/or the tendon may actually become thicker with a build up of scar tissue over a long period of time.

People with tendon pain often call their injury tendonitis however, in reality, tendinitis is a rare occurrence. Tendinosis is a more common injury.

Tenosynovitis

Tenosynovitis, also called paratendonitis (or peritendinitis), is a term used to describe inflammation and degeneration of the tendon's outer layer or sheath. Depending on the tendon, the sheath is also called the synovium or paratenon.

It is possible to suffer from tenosynovitis alone or in conjunction with the degeneration of a tendon, tendinosis. In either case, as your body tries to heal, scar tissue forms inside the sheath attaching the inner tissues of the tendon to its outer covering, the sheath or paratenon. This scar tissue limits the gliding movement of the tendon in the paratenon, reducing the range of motion and causing pain, tenderness, redness and swelling.

Ankle Tendon Treatments

Allowing your ankle to rest is always recommended when you are suffering from tendinitis, tendon tear or bone dislocation. Avoid all activities that may have caused the injury or irritation and begin cold compression treatments as soon as possible. The peroneal and posterior tibial tendons are difficult to rest completely as they are essential tendons for walking and daily activities. During your recovery, you will probably have to modify and/or eliminate any activities that cause pain or discomfort in your ankle until the pain and inflammation settle.

The trick with healing an ankle tendon injury is getting it to heal with minimal scar tissue formation and with as much realignment of the tendon fibres as possible - something ultrasound therapy is great at! Even with optimum healing, there is always less elasticity in previously injured peroneal tendons. This will cause the tendons to hurt during daily activities and exercise. However, if you heal your ankle tendons efficiently and quickly, your chance of re-injury later on is much lower than average.

Fortunately, there are healing tools that can help treat your peroneal and posterior tibial tendons and speed up the healing process so you can get back to a life without pain and risk of further injury. Therapeutic ultrasound will treat scar tissue and reduce inflammation while Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy (BFST^®) promotes blood flow to heal your tendons faster and more completely than any other methods available.

Cold Compression Therapy

Doctors recommend using cold compression as soon as possible following an ankle injury, like a sprain, and after any re-injury. This will reduce pain and swelling and minimize tissue damage that occurs with soft tissue injuries like tendon tears and tendinitis.

The Ankle/Achilles Freezie Wrap^® allows you to treat the pain and swelling of your peroneal tendinitis or posterior tibial tendinitis in an effective and convenient way.

The wrap is adjustable which allows you to control the compression to a level that is comfortable for you and the gel packs are chilled in the fridge not the freezer. This eliminates the risk of cryoburn, or 'cold burns', on your skin that can be cause by ice and strandard freezer gel packs. You can also wear the Freezie Wrap^® for longer treatments so you can enjoy even more relief from your ankle pain!

Cold Compression Therapy works by interrupting and slowing nerve and cell function in the injured area and reducing swelling that can block blood vessels. This is important because once blood vessels are blocked or damaged, they can no longer carry oxygenated blood through the peroneal tendons and tissue cells begin to break-down. Without cold compression therapy cellular break-down and tissue damage continues as the cells do not get the oxygen they need to survive. By limiting the amount of damage, you also limit the amount of healing that needs to occur. This is a very important step to heal your ankle tendons faster and with less pain!

The deep cooling effect provided by the Ankle/Achilles Freezie Wrap^® gives you the fast, effective relief your sore ankle has been looking for!

Click Here to learn more about Freezie Wrap^® ColdCure Technology^®

Ultrasound Therapy

Ultrasound therapy is the most effective and pain-free way to reduce inflammation, soften scar tissue and promote faster healing of your ankle tendons.

During the healing process, scar tissue builds on your tendons and can attach the tendons to other tissue in the area. This limits the flexibility and movement of the tendons and other tissue in your foot and increases the amount of pain you will experience. Fortunately, you can treat your scar tissue with therapeutic ultrasound to improve the elasticity and flexibility of your tendons.

Not only does ultrasound reduce inflammation, soften scar tissue and speed up the healing process, it also helps to prevent long term complications. Pain, lack of mobility, arthritis, tendinosis, or a complete tendon tear are some of the more common long term complications that can occur when tendinitis (tendonitis) goes untreated.

By treating your tendinitis or tendon tear with ultrasound, scar tissue becomes softer and the tissue becomes stronger reducing the risk of chronic problems in the future.

For those who suffer from chronic tendonitis or repetitive strains, ultrasound can help. Ultrasound therapy can help to break up scar and fibrous tissue that has built up over time and restore elasticity to the tissue and flexibility in your ankle joint.

Ultrasound can also be used to administer therapeutic medicines into the body. This is a process known as phonophoresis. Ultrasound with phonophoresis is rapidly becoming more popular than ultrasound therapy alone.

Using the MendMeShop^® Lavender Infusion Gel during your ultrasound therapy gives you 2 therapies in 1. You get the benefit of the regenerating sound waves from the ultrasound device itself AND the added bonus of the therapeutic ingredients inside the gel being delivered into the tissue where it is most effective.

MendMeShop^®Lavender Infusion Ultrasound Gel contains the natural essential oils of Bulgarian lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, and menthol and is exclusively available from MendMeShop^®. These ingredients reduce inflammation, relieve pain and improve blood circulation to your injured tendons. 1 bottle of MendMeShop^® Lavender Infusion Ultrasound Gel comes FREE with every MendMeShop^® Ultrasound System so you get unbeatable ultrasound therapy for your injured ankle ligaments and tendons.

MendMeShop^® Ultrasound System With phonophoresis is safe, convenient, and easy and requires between 5 - 10 minutes per treatment. It is based on a form of deep tissue therapy, which is generated through high frequency sound waves (that we can not hear). These waves send vibrations deep into your soft tissue cells. The waves are delivered through a hand held transducer and conductive gel that are used together in a slow, circular motion on your skin over the injured ankle.

Click Here to learn more about Ultrasound Therapy

Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy^™

Once inflammation has been reduced, nourishing and strengthening the tendon tissue and surrounding area is recommended.

Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy^™, or BFST^®, will speed your recovery and heal your ankle tendons more completely preparing them for strengthening exercises.

BFST^® increases the amount of blood that flows naturally to your ankle to nourish your tendons and ligaments, improving elasticity and accelerating the healing process.

By treating your ankle with Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy you can increase your body's natural healing power. In addition, the fresh blood flow whisks away dead cells and toxins that have built up from tendonitis and tissue damage leaving the area clean and able to heal faster. Our Ankle/Achilles Inferno Wrap^® provides effective, non-invasive, non-addictive pain relief and healing with no side effects.

Click Here to learn more about how Inferno Wrap^® BFST^® works

With these 3 easy therapies you will notice incredible improvement in your ankle. You will have less pain and stronger tendons to get yourself back on your feet again. The more diligent you are with your treatment and rehabilitation, the faster you will see successful results!

NOTE: We recommend that you consult your doctor and/or physiotherapist before using any of our outstanding products, to make sure they're right for you and your condition.

Please be aware that this information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider before starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Or email us at service@MendMeShop.com