tendon is it is word

8/2/2019 Tendon is It is Word

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Achilles Tendon Rupture

A rupture of the Achilles tendon can result from untreated

Achilles tendonitis. A rupture occurs when the Achilles

tendon, which attaches the calf muscle to the heel, suddenlytears, usually about two inches above the heel or ankle

bone. This tear is usually described as a hearing a "pop" or

"snap" and feeling as though someone has kicked them in

the heel. After a rupture of the Achilles tendon there is

extreme difficulty in pointing the toes down and swelling

and bruising are common around the site.

Achilles tendon ruptures most commonly occur in the

middle-aged "weekend warrior", or middle-aged athlete

who participates in athletic activity on the weekends. This

injury often occurs during recreational sports that require

short bursts of jumping, running or pivoting, such as

basketball, racquetball, tennis or badminton. The rupture is

often sustained while making a forceful push-off while theknee is straightened or a sudden trip or fall with the foot

receiving much of the force.

Normally, events such as a sudden trip or stumble would

not cause a rupture for most people. The middle-aged

athlete is more at risk because of how our bodies age. With

each year we age, the tissues and tendons in our body

become more inflexible. The leading cause of Achillestendonitis and Achilles tendon rupture is a lack of

flexibility.

Signs of an Achilles tendon rupture:


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A sudden and sever pain is felt at the back of the ankle or

heel. A loud pop or snap is heard. A gap or depression can

be felt or seen about 2 inches above the heel bone.Swelling, pain and stiffness, followed by bruising and

weakness. Standing on the toes or pushing off when

walking is impossible. An inability to point the toes.

Treatment for an Achilles tendon rupture is needed to

restore normal length and tension to the tendon. Treatment

for a rupture is very basic and stresses protection with

motion. Protecting the Achilles tendon is important whiletrying to treat a rupture. Moving the foot and ankle is

needed to maintain muscle tone and prevent stiffness.

Treatment for a rupture can be solved with surgical or non-

surgical treatment. Both types of treatment require an initial

period of wearing a cast or special brace. This period

usually lasts about 6 weeks; followed by a change incasting at 2 to 4 week intervals to slowly stretch the tendon

back to its normal length. A heel wedge can be used in

conjunction with physical therapy for the remainder of the

treatment. Surgical treatment will require the tendon to be

reattached and then the casting will follow the same

treatment pattern as described above. onservative measures

are usually the most effective in alleviating the pain and

healing Achilles Tendonitis. Treatment for this condition

may include the use of anti-inflammatory drugs such as

aspirin. Limiting stressful activity, such as prolonged

running, is an important factor in healing the Tendonitis.

Also, stretching properly before exercise is a good way to


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warm up the tendon before applying excessive strain.

Using an orthotic shoe insert is another conservative

way to greatly reduce the symptoms associated withAchilles Tendonitis. The orthotic helps to add corrective

support to the heel of the foot and aids in restoring the

proper mechanics of the heel to reduce and prevent

irritation and strain on the tendon. In most cases this simple

treatment provides the most effective results in alleviating

Achilles Tendonitis.

Foot Pain & Injuries

Foot & Heel Injuries:

Injuries to the ligaments, muscles, and tendons in the lower

body are very common. Your legs and feet endure constantstress or pressure due to the amount of time you spend

standing, as well as from the pressure they endure during

physical activity and sports. Because of the excessive

amount of work your feet undergo on a daily basis, they are

often prone to developing many painful conditions that can

plague your feet.

Common Heel and Foot Injuries

The most common types of feet pain can develop around,

and be centered on the heel of the foot. The heels of the feet

often hit the ground at high velocity or with great pressure


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during running or any other physical activity which would

deliver excessive amounts of weight, pounding, or force

against the heel. Because the heels of the feet are prone to

receiving the brunt of physical stress it is important to beable to address these painful conditions when they occur in

order to treat the painful conditions and keep them from

coming back.

Plantar Fasciitis

Among the most common causes of pain in the feet is

plantar fasciitis. This condition occurs when theplantar

fascia ligament, which runs the length of the bottom of thefoot, develops tears and becomes inflamed. Aching pain

can ensue once this condition develops and it can greatly

affect your daily lifestyle.

Heel Spurs

Another type of feet pain is due to heel spurs. Heel spurs

are pointed, bony fragments that extend from the heel ofthe foot and point forwards towards the toes. This fragment

can become very painful as it tears through tissue and

nerves in the foot and pain usually becomes more severe

over time as the spur develops.

Achilles Tendonitis

Another type of pain that can develop around the heel of

the foot is Achilles tendonitis. Similar to plantar fasciitis,

Achilles tendonitis results from tears in the Achilles tendon

along the back of the heel and ankle due to repetitive or

excessive stress, resulting in inflammation and pain.
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Severs Disease

Calcaneal Apophysitis (Severs Disease) is a common form

of pain in children ages that are 9 to 15 years old. More

physically active children may develop this condition whenthey experience sharp, aching pain in their feet, particularly

in their heels, which also may cause them to change their

gait (the way their foot hits the ground as they walk or run).

Metatarsalgia

Metatarsalgia is a painful condition in the metatarsal or

ball-of-foot area that is often a result of inflammation.Added pressure on the forefoot, often as a result of high

heeled shoes, can negatively affect the area and cause

terrible pain.

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Tarsal Tunnel occurs as a result of the tibial nerve

becoming pinched. When this tibial nerve is pinched orconstricted, pain and inflammation may occur. This

condition is much like the condition that affects the wrist,

known as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Causes of Heel Pain

Many factors can lead to the development of a heel injury

and pain. Causes of heel pain may include:

Shoes

Ill-fitting or unsupportive shoes can often add pressure to

the heel, plantar fascia, and other parts of the foot. Shoes

that do not provide adequate cushioning in the heel,
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forefoot, and support in the arch may add strain or cause

misalignment throughout the foot during movement, over

working the foot and causing mechanical malfunctions of

the foot, such as with pronation.

Exercise

Sports and physical activity are often responsible for

adding strain the heel of the foot. Athletes often want to

push themselves during training. Unfortunately, this

behavior can often lead to injury. Injury can be prevented

by stretching before and after a workout, wearing

supportive athletic shoes, and easing into an exerciseroutine gradually.

Common Symptoms of Heel Pain

A wide range of symptoms can occur among the injuries

and conditions listed above. Among the most common

symptoms are:

Morning Heel Pain

Many foot pain conditions are more painful in the morning,

particularly when getting out of bed in the morning. Being

off the feet for prolonged periods of time relives pain,

however when weight is placed on the feet for the first time

in the morning pain can be the most severe.

Tenderness and Swelling

Sometimes heel pain sufferers may not realize they have an

injury until they notice tenderness and swelling. This is

sometimes an indication that they have a heel spur, plantar

fasciitis, or related heel injury.


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Localized Pain

Pain in the front underside of the heel is often a good

indication of plantar fasciitis or the development of a heelspur. Pain in the back of the heel is usually an indication of

Achilles tendonitis. Pain in the lower back portion of the

underside of the heel can indicate the occurrence of Severs

Disease.

Numbness and Tingling

Sometimes, a nerve in the foot can cause pain, as well as

numbness or tingling throughout the foot. This couldindicate Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome, but in few cases can also

occur as a result of a heel spur interfering with a nerve in

the heel.


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How Tendonitis Occurs

A tendon is the end part of a muscle thatattaches the muscle to the bone. The normallyvery elastic and soft muscle tapers off at the

end to form the much more dense and stifftendon. While this density makes the tendons

stronger, the lack of elasticity of the tendonand the constant pulling on its attachment tothe bone with movement, makes it much more

susceptible to a low level of tearing at amicroscopic level. This tearing will produce the

inflammation and irritation known astendinitis. Often spelled tendonitis, eitherspelling is correct for this condition. Tendinitis

is usually seen after excessive repetitivemovement with which the tendon graduallybecomes tighter until the fibers start to tear.

For example, a person who plays tennis mayover-use the muscles of the elbow through

hitting the ball repetitively and causetendonitis to the area.

Common Areas of Tendon inflammation

The most common tendon areas that becomeinflamed are the elbow, wrist, biceps, shoulder

(including rotator cuff attachments), leg, knee(patellar), ankle, hip, and Achilles. Of course,


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tendonitis can will vary with each person, as itstrikes the areas you use most.

Tendonitis Symptoms

Symptoms can vary from an achy pain andstiffness to the local area of the tendon, to aburning that surrounds the whole joint around

the inflamed tendon. With this condition, the

pain is usually worse during and after activity,and the tendon and joint area can become

stiffer the following day.

Tendonitis Treatment

With proper care for the area, the pain in thetendon should lessen over three weeks, but itshould be noted that the healing of the area

continues and doesn't even peak until at leastsix weeks following the initial injury. This is

due to scar tissue formation, which initiallyacts like the glue to bond the tissue backtogether. Scar tissue will continue to form

past six weeks in some cases and as long as ayear in severe cases. After 6 months this

condition is considered chronic and much moredifficult to treat. The initial approach totreating tendonitis is to support and protect


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the tendons by bracing any areas of the tendonthat are being pulled on during use. It is

important to loosen up the tendon, lessen the

pain, and minimize any inflammation.

This can be done topically if a pain reliever hasthe ability to penetrate the skin barrier andcontains anti-inflammatory agents. A topical

formula that contains natural menthol will notonly relieve pain, but dilate the blood vessels.

This allows for relief of the tendonitis, withoutcausing any stiffening of the tissue. MSM, alsoknown as Methyl Sulfonyl Methane is a natural

supplement that is getting a lot of attentiondue to its role in tissue healing at a cellular

level. It is a natural organic sulfur that comesfrom rain fall and is found naturally in thehuman body. It has been shown to have anti-

inflammatory effects on the tissues. See allabout Glucosamine and MSM for moreinformation this supplement. Ice can relieve

inflammation, but will constrict the bloodvessels and further stiffen the tendon.

Cortisone injections can reduce inflammation,

but unfortunately are very caustic and cancause a weakening of the tendon structure and

a create more scar tissue. Dr. Swartzburg, oursite editor, worked in conjunction with our

sponsor, Relief-Mart, to develop a spray for
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Tendonitis called Therapain Plus. It has allnatural pain relievers plus 14,000mg of MSM

and Glucosamine.

After the scar tissue has begun to accumulate,

it will be important to perform procedureswhich help break down the scar tissue in thetendon tissue, so as to let the tendon and

muscle regain it's normal flexibility and lessenthe chance of further injury. While exercise is

appropriate for breaking down scar tissue oncethe area has healed, it may further irritate thearea during the initial stages. Therefore, other

methods that can be performed by yourhealthcare provider, such as ultrasound and

massage, may be safely used to accomplishthis early on in the injury. Ultrasound usessound waves that vibrate a such a fast level,

that it cannot be felt with normal use.Ultrasound will cause an increase in circulationto the tissue and soften the scar tissue to allow

it to further break down. Ultrasound can alsobe used as phonophoresis to help topical pain

and nutrient solutions reach further down into

the tissues by transporting them with thesound waves. Light stretches may also be

performed if they do not cause any furtherirritation to the area during the acute phase.

During the sub-acute and chronic phases of
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Tendonitis, more aggressive stretches can beperformed, however, it should be noted that

stretches should focus on the muscle belly and

not attempt to lengthen the affected tendon.Additionally, you should not feel any irritation

in the tendon during these muscle stretches.

Tendonitis Prevention

Prevention of this condition requires stretchingthe muscle on a regular basis and thereby

lengthening the tendon connection. This willallow less pulling and tractioning on the tendonattachment to the bone. When tendonitis does

occur, it is important to treat it immediately,and thereby prevent it from reaching a stage

that is more severe.


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Achilles TendonitisHow Achilles Tendonitis Occurs

The Achilles tendon named after the Greekmythological character, Achilles, is the largestand strongest Tendon in the human body. This

Tendon is one of the many reasons why we areable to walk upright. The Achilles tendonattaches the Calcaneus(heel bone) to the

Soleus-gastrocnemius complex (calf muscles).This incredibly tough, fibrous tendon transfers

the energy of the calf muscle to the force thatallows you to push your foot off of the ground.Taking a single step forward begins at the calf

muscles. The calf muscles react to nerves,connected to the brain, that tell the muscles to

contract. When the muscle contracts it placestension on the Tendon. The Achilles tendontransfers the tension to top of the heel bone.

The tension causes the heel bone to be pulledupward. When the heel bone is pulled upwardit creates the force needed to push the foot off

the ground. Aside from the tendon pulling on

the Calcaneus (heel bone), there are manyother factors which contribute to our ability towalk. The foot needs to be stabilized laterallyto keep it from rolling side to side during the

process of taking a step forward.


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Achilles Tendonitis is a condition that occursprimarily because of an overuse of the area.

After Tendonitis sets in, the Achilles tendon

then becomes tight and painful. The normalgait cycle requires the ankle to move a total of

30 degrees. The constant movement ofwalking results in constant lengthening and

shortening of the tendon. This constantmovement can cause inflammation and micro-trauma to the area. The extreme shear forces

placed on the insertion point of the tendon istypically what causes Achilles Tendonitis. The

insertion point is where the tendon attaches tothe Calcaneus (heel bone). The point at whichthe tendon connects to the heel bone is where

the maximum shear force is found. Thetendon does have the ability to stretch a small

amount, but because the tendon is so denseand fiborous is does not stretch much. Whenthe calf muscles are tight and tense, the

tendon will be under more strain than normal.If the calf muscle is loose, the muscles stretchfurther taking stress off of the tendon. Under

a microscope, an Achilles Tendon should be

white, glistening and firm. An Achilles Tendonthat is plagued by Achilles Tendinitis istypically dull, slightly brownish in color andmuch softer than normal.


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muscles during movement of the area. Whenthe calf muscles are tight they do not react to

tension correctly. A tight calf muscle places a

great deal of strain and stress directly on theAchilles Tendon. The muscles should act as a

shock absorber for the tendon, but if themuscle is very tight the shock will not be

absorbed.

Tight muscles can occur for many reasons.

Stretching before any physical activity isalways recommended. A person that staysphysically active all the time will generally

have muscles that are flexible and not as tightas someone who is not physically active. If a

person exercises and stretches daily, they willnot be as prone to Tendonitis.

Achilles Tendonitis Symptoms

Symptoms can vary from an achy pain andstiffness to the insertion of the Achilles tendon

to the heel bone (calcaneus), to a burning thatsurrounds the whole joint around the inflamed

thick tendon. With this condition, the pain isusually worse during and after activity, and thetendon and joint area can become stiffer the

following day. This is especially true if yoursheets are pushing down on your toes and


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thereby driving your foot into what is termedplantar flexion (downward flexed foot), as this

will shorten the tendon all night.

Achilles Tendonitis Treatment

With proper care for the area, the pain in the

tendon should lessen over three weeks, but itshould be noted that the healing of the area

continues and doesn't even peak until at leastsix weeks following the initial injury. This isdue to scar tissue formation, which initially

acts like the glue to bond the tissue backtogether. Scar tissue will continue to form

past six weeks in some cases and as long as ayear in severe cases. After 6 months this

condition is considered chronic and much moredifficult to treat. The initial approach totreating Achilles tendonitis is to support andprotect the tendons by bracing any areas of

the tendon that are being pulled on during use.It is important to loosen up the tendon, lessen

the pain, and minimize any inflammation.

This can be done topically if a pain reliever has

the ability to penetrate the skin barrier andcontains anti-inflammatory agents. A topicalformula that contains natural menthol will not


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only relieve pain, but dilate the blood vessels.This allows for relief of the tendonitis, without

causing any stiffening of the tissue. MSM, also

known as Methyl Sulfonyl Methane is a naturalsupplement that is getting a lot of attention

due to its role in tissue healing at a cellularlevel. It is a natural organic sulfur that comes

from rain fall and is found naturally in thehuman body. It has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects on the tissues. See all

about Glucosamine and MSM for moreinformation this supplement. Ice can relieve

inflammation, but will constrict the bloodvessels and further stiffen the tendon.Cortisone injections can reduce inflammation,

but unfortunately are very caustic and cancause a weakening of the tendon structure and

a create more scar tissue. Dr. Swartzburg, oursite editor, worked in conjunction with oursponsor, Relief-Mart, to develop a spray for

Tendonitis called Therapain Plus. It has allnatural pain relievers plus 14,000mg of MSMand Glucosamine.

After the scar tissue has begun to accumulate,it will be important to perform procedures

which help break down the scar tissue in theachilles tendon tissue, so as to let the tendon

and muscle regain it's normal flexibility and
http://www.1backpain.com/all_about_glucosamine_and_msm.htmhttp://www.1backpain.com/all_about_glucosamine_and_msm.htmhttp://www.reliefmart.com/Therapain_Plus_Glucosamine_and_MSM_for_Tendonitis.htmhttp://www.1backpain.com/all_about_glucosamine_and_msm.htmhttp://www.1backpain.com/all_about_glucosamine_and_msm.htmhttp://www.reliefmart.com/Therapain_Plus_Glucosamine_and_MSM_for_Tendonitis.htm


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lessen the chance of further injury. Whileexercise is appropriate for breaking down scar

tissue once the area has healed, it may further

irritate the area during the initial stages.Therefore, other methods that can be

performed by your healthcare provider, suchas ultrasound and massage, may be safely

used to accomplish this early on in the injury.Ultrasound uses sound waves that vibrate asuch a fast level, that it cannot be felt with

normal use. Ultrasound will cause an increasein circulation to the tissue and soften the scar

tissue to allow it to further break down.Ultrasound can also be used as phonophoresisto help topical pain and nutrient solutions

reach further down into the tissues bytransporting them with the sound waves. Light

stretches may also be performed if they do notcause any further irritation to the area. Oncethe heavy inflammation has passed, the

stretches can become more vigorous and bydesign really stretch the calf muscle, thereforehelping to slacken the Achillies tendon (see

proper Achilles stretch below)


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Achilles/Calf Stretch (courtesy ofwww.1backpain.com)

Start with stretching the right Gastrocnemius portion of the

right calf area. While standing, place your right leg in front

of you and your left foot directly behind you. Place the

toes of your right forefoot up against a door or other flat

wall surface, keeping your heel down to the floor. Lean

your upper body forward to place a stretch on the back ofthe calf. Do the exact opposite to achieve a stretch of the

left calf area. Hold each stretch for a minimum of 30

seconds. Any less than 15 seconds and the muscle will not

conform to the new increase in length. Do 3 reps, 3-6 times
http://www.1backpain.com/http://www.1backpain.com/


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a day. Any pain you feel with this exercise should only be

a local stretching sensation to the calf area of the leg,

without aggravating your condition.

Achilles Tendonitis Prevention

Prevention of this condition requires stretchingthe calf muscle on a regular basis and thereby

lengthening the tendon connection. This willallow less pulling and tractioning on the tendon

attachment to the bone. When tendonitis doesoccur, it is important to treat it immediately,and thereby prevent it from reaching a stagethat is more severe.


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Tendinitis

URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001229.htm

Tendinitis is inflammation, irritation, and swelling of a

tendon, which is the fibrous structure that joins muscle to

bone. In many cases, tendinosis (tendon degeneration) is

also present.

Causes

Tendinitis can occur as a result of injury, overuse, or withaging as the tendon loses elasticity. It can also be seen in

persons with body-wide (systemic) diseases such as

rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes.

Tendinitis can occur in any tendon, but some commonly

affected sites include the:

Elbow Heel (Achilles tendinitis)

Shoulder

Wrist

Symptoms

Pain and tenderness along a tendon, usually near a

joint Pain at night

Pain that is worse with movement or activity
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000431.htmhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001072.htmhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000431.htmhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001072.htm


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Exams and Tests

The health care provider will perform a physical exam and

look for signs of pain and tenderness when the muscle

attached to the tendon is used against resistance. There arespecific tests for specific tendons.

The tendon can be inflamed, and the overlying skin may be

warm and red.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to relieve pain and reduceinflammation.

Rest or immobilization of the affected tendons is helpful

for recovery. This may be achieved using a splint or a

removable brace. The application of heat or cold to the

affected area can help.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs),such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can also reduce both pain and

inflammation. Steroid injections into the tendon sheath can

also be very useful in controlling pain and allowing

physical therapy to start.

Physical therapy that stretches and strengthens the muscle

and tendon is essential. This can restore the tendon's ability

to function properly, improve healing, and prevent futureinjury.

Rarely, surgery is needed to physically remove the

inflammatory tissue from around the tendon.


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tendon is it is word

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