What are tendons?
SO what’s this month’s Blog about? Well, we’ll turn our attention to our tendons… but what are “tendons”?
Taken from a straightforward online dictionary definition our tendons are “flexible but inelastic cord of strong fibrous collagen tissue attaching a muscle to a bone.”
What can go wrong with them?
What is tendinitis and what is tendinosis? And what can you do about them?
Call for a chat: 07816 303 742
What is Tendinitis?
Tendinitis is irritation or inflammation of a tendon and is usually caused by injury from repetitive movement, sudden overload motions, posture, and / or aging. It causes dull or severe pain, usually around a joint, with potential mild swelling, warmth, and redness in the area. It may feel difficult to move the joint and, over time,
it can increase the risk of further injury. 😫
Common tendinitis areas include:
- Shoulders (rotator cuff muscles)
- Elbows (golfer’s or tennis elbow)
- Ankles (Achilles tendinitis), and
- Knees (Jumper’s knee or patella tendinitis)
Although any tendon in the body has the potential to be affected.
What is Tendinosis?
Tendinosis is caused by failed healing and leads to degeneration of the tissue often without significant inflammation.
Type 1 collagen damage leads to the replacement in the healing process by other collagen types (Type 2 / 3) according to Peter M. Tiidus in his book “Skeletal Muscle Damage and Repair” (2008).
This crazy mess of non-linear scar tissue formation is strong but even less elastic than the original construct.
How does Low Level Laser Therapy help?
Early intervention with the use of Low Level Laser Therapy is shown to reduce the formation of scar tissue from the haphazard mess to return to a more natural linear pattern creating a better clinical outcome… a better prognosis… repairing your body faster and getting you back to your work, training, or day-to-day life…
Enhanced supply of oxygenated blood
K-Laser treatment doesn’t do anything to the body that the body doesn’t naturally do, it works in a naturopathic way leading to quicker repair and is a great alternative to invasive (and potentially damaging) corticosteroid injections.
Enhancing the supply of oxygenated blood and nutrients and the removal of waste products, the laser’s light interacts with the mitochondria within cells and accelerates their production of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) for faster cellular recovery.
K-Laser is a safe and non-invasive therapeutic treatment that facilitates essential changes to cells in muscles, tendons, bone, ligaments, fascia, and other body tissues. So it’s ideal for tendinitis, driving down inflammation and hastening a repair before any tendinopathy occurs … It’s also fantastic when troubleshooting more chronic tendon tissue states, like tendinosis, which have become harder to shift.
Here’s a few Google reviews for K-Laser:
I was made aware of Sam’s practice that includes K-Laser therapy. This was recommended for 6 treatments of 15 mins to treat an achilles tendon issue. The treatment provided positive easing…
K-Laser worked wonders on a tendinopathy that finally appears to be resolved after many years of discomfort. Highly recommend!
So why wait until scar tissue forms after repetitive strains or injuries?
Dense, fibrous connective tissue is less elastic than the original tissue and will have a disrupted blood supply – it ought to be sorted quickly.
Left unchecked, the scar tissue can feel stiffer, reducing mobility and creating pain… plus the imbalance may affect other body tissues – Achilles tendonitis and tendinosis often precipitates the onset of plantar fasciitis, for example… not good.
SO carpe diem … seize the day! Get yourself booked in for an appointment and get that nagging issue dealt with before the spring comes in… then you can have a healthy, active year ahead! 🏃 Don’t feel under the weather but plan ahead for a happy, joyful summer!
Call for a chat: 07816 303 742
Want to know more about K-Laser? Visit a previous Blog explaining the science… Low level laser treatment: The facts