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Tendonitis refers to inflammation, irritation and swelling of a tendon.  Tendons are thick fibrous cords that connect the muscles to the bones.   This inflammation may result in painful swelling and stiffness of the tendon and of the joint around the inflamed tendon.  The pain typically worsens during and after activity and the tendon and joint can become stiff the following day.

Tendonitis injuries are common in upper and lower limbs, including the rotator cuff attachments.  Severity of the injury will depend upon the type, frequency and severity of activity or exercise of the joint.  For example, swimmers are likely to develop tendonitis in their shoulders.  Achilles tendonitis is common in sports involving lunging or jumping, while patellar tendonitis is common among basketball and volleyball players.

Symptoms can vary from aches and pains and local stiffness to a burning that surrounds the entire joint and inflamed tendon.  Swelling may appear along with heat and redness in some cases.  Pain is usually worse during and after activities.

Traditional treatments usually involve use of anti-inflammatory drugs (which have unwanted side effects) and avoiding exercise and activities while waiting for the body to heal, which may take several weeks or months.

Laser therapy helps to resolve the pain and inflammation of tendonitismore quickly than conventional treatment methods.  The increased serotonin and endorphin production help to modulate the pain.  Improved lymphatic drainage assists with relief of swelling and stiffness, while the stimulation of cellular activity provides the energy needed to repair the damaged tendon.  Treatment with low-intensity laser therapy can significantly reduce healing time while avoiding the side effects of anti-inflammatory and pain medications.

Clinical Research on Laser Therapy for Tendonitis

“The available material suggests that LLLT is safe and effective, and that LLLT acts in a dose-dependant manner by biological mechanisms which modulate both tendon inflammation and tendon repair processes.”
A Systematic Review with Procedural Assessments and Meta-Analysis of Low Level Laser Therapy in Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy (Tennis Elbow) – Bjordal et al. (2008) BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

If you are suffering from tendonitis, please call our office at 250-860-4518 for a health consultation that will get you on your way to healing the tendon and returning to normal activities again!

Laser therapy is the safe and clinically proven effective treatment of choice for patients of any age – child to senior.  This painless therapy is non-invasive, non-surgical and has no side effects.