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Definition

Tendon injuries often occur when you have irritated or damaged the tough fibers that connect muscle to bone. The most common areas that are often affected are the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle.

Alternative or related names

Tendinopathy; flexor tendon; tendon tear; ligament tear; tendon repair; tendon damage; tennis elbow; extensor tendon; bone spur; ruptured tendon; sports injury

Description

Tendon injuries are usually caused by wear and tear over time through repeated movement, but sometimes occur from sudden movements. There are a few ways to repair a tendon injury. They can be healed:

• On their own
• With at-home remedies
• By doing physiotherapy

These injuries can take anywhere from three to four months to completely heal. It all really depends on the kind of tear or injury it is. However, waiting too long to repair a torn or injured tendon can delay the recovery time and possibly can cause the development of more scars in the long run.

Causes

Most tendon injuries are caused by gradual wear and tear after years of overusing the tendon or simply by age. Tendon damage can also happen suddenly by an accidental twist or turn in the wrong direction or by injury from a sharp object.

Tendon problems are more likely to occur in people who perform the same motion repeatedly on a daily basis, such as those who play sports or have hard labor jobs.

Treatments

The most common treatments are at-home treatments, and these include:

• Rest
• Ice
• Over-the-counter pain medicine

Usually, an injured tendon tends to get better on its own, but a full recovery can be difficult, regardless of age.

A plastic surgeon may suggest physiotherapy. This would be for a more severe or long-lasting injury and a brace, splint, sling or crutch may be prescribed.

These allow all tendons to rest and heal. Surgery may be necessary if it鈥檚 too difficult to repair the tendon with physical therapy.

Outlook (prognosis)

Tendon injuries normally take 12 to 16 weeks to heal, depending on the type of tear and injury. Waiting too long to repair a tendon can lead to the tendon remaining ruptured or more scars developing on the end of the tendons.

References

Andarawis-Puri N, Flatow EL, Soslowsky LJ. Tendon basic science: Development, repair, regeneration, and healing. J Orthop Res. 2015 Jun;33(6):780-4. doi: 10.1002/jor.22869. Epub 2015 Apr 24. PMID: 25764524; PMCID: PMC4427041

Pesqueira T, Costa-Almeida R, Gomes ME. Magnetotherapy: The quest for tendon regeneration. J Cell Physiol. 2018 Oct;233(10):6395-6405. doi: 10.1002/jcp.26637. Epub 2018 May 9. PMID: 29741815

Sharma P, Maffulli N. Tendon injury and tendinopathy: healing and repair. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2005 Jan;87(1):187-202. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.D.01850. PMID: 15634833