Muscle Strains & Tendonitis
What is muscle strains and tendonitis?
A muscle strain is any injury that occurs to a muscle or tendon (the structures that connect muscles to bones). Sometimes called "pulled muscles", muscle strains vary in severity and commonly occur in the back, neck, shoulders and legs. A muscle spasm occurs when a muscle is abnormally used, and causes an involuntary contraction, often described as feeling "locked" or "stuck". Muscle spasms are often referred to as a "charlie horse" and can be quite painful!
An injury to a tendon that causes inflammation is often referred to as "tendonitis". Tendon injuries can be caused by traumatic incidents (sports injuries, etc) or chronic overuse (repetitive movements). Symptoms of a muscle strain and tendonitis are similar, so a detailed assessment is recommended to ensure the right treatment is being provided!
Muscle Strain and Tendonitis Symptoms
- Pain or tenderness
- Redness or bruising
- Limited motion
- Swelling
- Muscle weakness
What Causes Muscle Strains and Tendonitis?
Muscle strains and tendonitis injuries can be caused by an acute event such as: a slip and fall, sports injury, twisting the 'wrong way', lifting something too heavy, or picking something up from the floor. Spasms can occur in any of these situations as well. Strains and tendonitis can also be caused by excessive amounts of repetitive movements such as: gardening, housework, repetitive job tasks or repeated sports movements.
Book An AppointmentHow Can Physiotherapy Help?
Physiotherapy can assist with managing pain, swelling and bruising, and can assist with regaining any loss of range of motion and strength. Physiotherapy will help get you back to your regular activities as quickly and efficiently as possible, while giving you information on how to prevent the injury from occurring again! Our physiotherapists are happy to work with your family physician or other health care professionals to deliver an integrated approach to your rehabilitation.
Prevention
Maintaining an active lifestyle, including regular stretching and strengthening, will help to prevent strains and tendon injuries. Managing your environment as best as possible, (keeping driveway clear, walking on dry surfaces) and having an ergonomic assessment of your workplace completed are two other important preventative factors to consider.
Why Pillars of Wellness?
At Pillars of Wellness, in Burlington, Ontario, we are proud to provide a truly integrated care approach that employs a variety of treatments to achieve a faster recovery. Our clinic offers various services such as physiotherapy, chiropractic, naturopathy, counselling, occupational therapy, yoga therapy, acupuncture, and holistic nutrition.
With multiple services and specialties in one place, you’ll get the best care possible — without having to look elsewhere. Pillars of Wellness is your one-stop-health solution, located right here in Burlington.
Last but not least, physiotherapy is typically covered under most extended health insurance plans. If you do not have coverage, or have exceeded your coverage limits, you can consult with our Chiropractors. All of our Chiropractor's and Physiotherapist's have skills and techniques to treat and manage muscle strains and associated symptoms.