It is said that the most common injury caused by a tendon strain happens through misuse. More often than not, the injury is caused by some kind of sports injury. For instance, basketball players often suffer an injury to the Achilles tendon, which connects the anklebone to the muscles found in the calf muscle.

Generally, this injury is treatable by resting the area and occasional applications of ice pack. To help prevent swelling and relieve pain this area is generally wrapped securely, but not overly tight. You can also relieve pain and swelling by elevating the area while resting.

If you are not careful, overstretching the tendon with repetitive action, while putting excessive on the area can cause damage to the tendons and cause pain and swelling. For instance, a weightlifter may cause his or her injuries by neglecting the warning signs of pain, since the body sends painful warning when it is overworked and stressed and in need of rest and recuperation time. You can condition the body for tendon strain beforehand by doing stretching and strengthening exercises as do professional dancers.

Tendon strain or injury is easy to diagnose while looking at the loss of motion as well as pain someone may feel. However, further testing may be required by the use of such tests as an ultrasound, MRI and even x-rays. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs are generally prescribed for the condition.

Once healed, through care of the affected area, or through surgery, a surgeon may advise the stretching and strengthening of the injured muscles through recommended daily exercises. Exercises are frequently done in warm water to prevent re-injury. Sometimes, it will be necessary to visit a physical therapist to ascertain that the exercises are done properly. The therapy involved may not just involve exercises either. It is common for ultrasound therapy, stretching, running and gait re-education, soft tissue massages to occur too, all depending on what caused the injury. Splints of various kinds are also used, as are local injections of cortisone as well as a numbing medicine may be injected also.

Physical therapy may include soft-tissue massage or mobilization, stretching and strengthening exercises, gait or running re-education or even ultrasound therapy. A surgeon or physician may recommend the use of special made shoes when there is damage to the Achilles tendon. These shoes may be special made to suit any particular activity. For instance, running shoes are different from basketball shoes. The appropriate type of shoe may assist in prevention of the condition reoccurring. Fifty percent of sports injuries involve tendon strain; therefore, it is essential to prevent such an injury.

Tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow are excellent examples of sports related injuries that are often created by misuse of the sport’s instrument. Tendon strain is quite common in these sports as well, and the treatment is the same as found above in those instances.

Tom Nicholson has spent years helping sufferers of carpal tunnel syndrome. Please follow this link to find out more regarding having asore wrist.