Who Gets Tendinitis?

People such as carpenters, gardeners, musicians, and athletes who perform activities that require repetitive motions or place stress on joints are at higher risk for tendinitis. Since tendons become less flexible as you age, you are more likely to get tendinitis as you get older.

Types of Tendinitis

Some types of tendinitis are named after the activities that often cause them. Here are some common examples:

• Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, which is an injury to the outer elbow tendon, often caused by repetitive wrist turning or hand gripping.
• Golfer’s elbow, or medial epicondylitis, which is an injury to the inner elbow tendon, often caused by repetitive wrist turning or hand gripping.
• Biceps tendinitis, which causes pain in the front or side of the shoulder that may travel down the arm, and sometimes pain when the arm is raised overhead.
• Rotator cuff tendinitis, which causes pain at the tip of the shoulder and the upper, outer arm; pain may become worse when reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, raising the arm, or lying on the shoulder.
• Jumper’s knee, more common among people who play sports that require jumping, such as basketball, which causes the knee tendon to become inflamed or tear from overuse. Achilles tendinitis, which is tendinitis in the tendon on the back of the heel.

Symptoms of Tendinitis

Tendinitis typically causes pain just outside your joint, especially when you move it, and swelling.

Causes of Tendinitis

Tendinitis is usually caused by repetitive motions or injuries. An infection, arthritis, gout, thyroid disease, or diabetes can also cause tendinitis.

Diagnosis of Tendinitis

To diagnose tendinitis, your doctor will probably ask questions about your medical history and examine you. You will probably be asked to describe your joint pain and the circumstances in which it occurs. The location and onset of pain, whether your pain varies in severity throughout the day, and factors that relieve or aggravate your pain may all help your doctor determine whether tendinitis is causing your pain.

Your doctor may also do manual examinations of the joint to see which tendon is inflamed. They may also recommend x-rays, which do not show the tendons, but which may help rule out other problems. A magnetic resonance imaging test (MRI) can show whether the tendons are inflamed. Your doctor may also remove and test fluid from the inflamed area to rule out infection.

Treatment of Tendinitis

Treating tendinitis can reduce pain and swelling. Some common treatments include:

• Resting and elevating the injured area.
• Limiting your activity, in order to reduce further injury.
  Taking medicines that will reduce swelling, such as aspirin, naproxen, or ibuprofen.
• Gentle stretching and strengthening exercises.Applying compression to the injured area.
• Soft tissue massage.
• Putting a brace, splint, or band on the injured joint.

Your doctor may also recommend ice for sudden, severe injuries, but most cases of tendinitis are long term, and ice does not help.

If your tendinitis does not improve, your doctor may inject a corticosteroid medicine into the area surrounding the inflamed tendon. Although these injections are common, they must be used with caution because they can lead to weakening or rupture of tendons, especially weight-bearing tendons in your ankles, feet, and knees.

If your tendon is completely torn, you may need surgery. If your tendon is partially or completely torn, you may also need several months of rehabilitation and exercises to restore your strength and prevent further injury.

Who Treats Tendinitis?

Diagnosing and treating tendinitis is a team effort involving you and several types of health care professionals. Depending on the severity of the condition, these may include:

• A primary care physician.
• Physical therapists, who help to improve joint function.
• Orthopaedists, who specialize in the treatment of, and surgery for, bone and joint diseases or injuries.
• Rheumatologists, who specialize in arthritis and other diseases of the bones, joints, and muscles.

Prevention of Tendinitis

Here are some tips to prevent inflammation and protect your joints:

• Exercise regularly.
• Begin new activities or exercise regimens slowly. Gradually increase physical demands following several well-tolerated exercise sessions.
• Take breaks from repetitive tasks often.
• Use two hands to hold heavy tools; use a two-handed backhand in tennis.
• Don’t sit still for long periods.
• Practice good posture and position the body properly when going about your daily activities. Strengthen muscles around the joint.
  Stop activities that cause pain.
• Cushion the affected joint. Use foam for kneeling, or elbow pads. Increase the gripping surface of tools with gloves or padding. Apply grip tape or an oversized grip to golf clubs. Consider seeking guidance from your doctor or physical therapist before starting new exercises and activities.

If you’re exhibiting symptoms of tendinitis, contact Orthopedic Performance Institute in San Antonio or Boerne at (210) 545-7171 for an appointment.

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However, there are things you can do to keep your hip bones strong to avoid surgery as long as possible.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Every 10 pounds of weight gain translates to 30 to 60 extra pounds of pressure on your joints, causing cartilage to break down more quickly. Losing that extra poundage can make a big difference.

Watch what you eat. Not only will certain foods quickly pack on the pounds, some even cause inflammation that can actually increase hip pain. These include sugar, white flour, white rice and potatoes.

Get Regular Exercise

Besides helping with your weight goals, exercise strengthens the muscles surrounding your hips and back. When these muscles are strong, your hips have more support to achieve better alignment and avoid grinding.

Vary your routine. Not only will this prevent your enthusiasm from waning, it will also train different parts of your body. You don’t have to become a bodybuilder. Swimming, walking, biking and using an elliptical machine are all good types of exercise that are easy on the joints and help you to gain strength and flexibility.

Try Physical Therapy

Along with exercise, get regular treatment from a professional physical therapist who can manipulate your joints to ease pain and increase flexibility.

Take Supplements and Anti-Inflammatories

Over-the-counter NSAIDs, such as Nuprin, Advil and Motrin, can help to reduce inflammation and ease hip pain.

Chondroitin and glucosamine supplements may also be helpful. Chondroitin sulfate can help to keep cartilage from deteriorating, and glucosamine stimulates cartilage formation and repair.

Don’t Ignore Hip Pain

If you are experiencing pain in your hips, schedule an appointment with the experts at the Orthopedic Performance Institute. We can diagnose your condition and recommend the best courses of preventative treatment. The Orthopedic Performance Institute has offices in the Stone Oak area of San Antonio and Boerne.

Schedule your appointment with the Orthopedic Performance Institute today.

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Causes

Bursitis is usually caused by overuse of a joint or trauma to a joint. For example, if you kneel or lean on your elbows on a hard surface for long periods, you may be at risk for bursitis. An infection, arthritis, gout, thyroid disease or diabetes can also cause bursitis.

If you perform activities that require repetitive motions or place stress on your joints — such as carpentry, gardening, playing a musical instrument, or playing a sport — you could be at a higher risk for bursitis.

Diagnosis

To diagnose bursitis, your doctor will probably ask questions about your medical history and examine you. You will probably be asked to describe your joint pain and the circumstances in which it occurs. The location and onset of pain, whether your pain varies in severity throughout the day, and factors that relieve or aggravate your pain may all help your doctor determine a bursitis diagnosis.

Your doctor may also do manual examinations of the joint to see whether tendons, another part of your joints, are inflamed. They may also recommend x-rays, which do not show the bursae, but which may help rule out other problems. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test can show whether the tendons or bursae are inflamed. Your doctor may also remove and test fluid from the inflamed area to rule out infection.

Treatment

Treating bursitis can reduce pain and inflammation and allow the injured bursa to heal. Some common treatments for bursitis include:

• Resting and elevating the injured area.
• Limiting your activity to reduce further injury.
• Taking anti-inflammatory medicines, such as aspirin, naproxen, or ibuprofen. Gentle stretching and strengthening exercises recommended by a doctor. Applying compression to the injured area.
• Putting a brace, splint or band on the injured joint.

If an infection is causing your bursitis, your doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics. Your doctor may also recommend ice for acute injuries, but most cases of bursitis are chronic and ice is not helpful.

If your bursitis does not improve, your doctor may inject a corticosteroid medicine into the area surrounding the inflamed bursa. Although these injections are common, they must be used with caution because they can lead to weakening or rupture of tendons. If your bursitis does not improve after 6 months to a year, your doctor may recommend surgery to repair damage and relieve pressure on your bursae.

Prevention

To help prevent inflammation or reduce the severity of its recurrence:

• Begin new activities or exercise regimens slowly.
• Gradually increase physical demands following several well-tolerated exercise sessions.
• Exercise regularly.
• Strengthen the muscles around the joint.
• Take frequent breaks from repetitive tasks.
• Stop the activities that cause pain.
• Cushion the affected joint. Use foam for kneeling or elbow pads. Increase the gripping surface of tools with gloves or padding. Apply grip tape or an oversized grip to golf clubs. Use two hands to hold heavy tools; use a two-handed backhand in tennis.
• Don’t sit still for long periods of time.
• Maintain good posture and position your body properly when going about your daily activities.

There’s no need to live with pain. If you are feeling this sort of discomfort, it’s a good idea to have yourself checked for bursitis. Contact Orthopedic Performance Institute in San Antonio or Boerne for an appointment today.

The post Facts About Bursitis appeared first on Orthopedic Performance.

• Baseline testing measures your brain function in a healthy state. This computerized test measures memory, attention span, and visual and verbal problem solving. Neurocognitive testing, like the ImPACT baseline test used by the Orthopedic Performance Institutem is the cornerstone of modern concussion management used by high schools, professional teams, universities, and clinical centers.
• While concussions aren’t preventable, baseline testing is a great way to be prepared if a concussion ever happens. If you have an injury, the Orthopedic Performance Institute, or other healthcare provider, can compare a post-injury test to the patient’s baseline test and determine the extent of concussion for treatment and evaluate a safe return to activity. Objective data will help evaluate reaction time, memory capacity, speed of mental processing, and executive functioning of the brain.
• As preventative medicine, an annual concussion baseline test is recommended to ensure an up-to-date record of a patient’s normal functioning.
• Baseline evaluations take about an hour in office and include the following:

1. Physical exam and review of personal history.
2. Vestibular/Ocular-Motor (VOMS) screening to indicate balance dysfunction.
3. ImPACT neurocognitive computerized test. This test is timed and takes about 20 minutes to complete.

• $50 is charged for each concussion baseline screening. They are not covered by insurance.

Post-Injury Concussion Treatment

Our concussion treatment plan is part of a multidisciplinary approach for balanced care and treatment, and includes:

• Physical exam and review of personal history.
• Vestibular/Ocular-Motor (VOMS) screening to indicate balance dysfunction and, if necessary, needed referral to specialist for more detailed assessment and management.
• ImPACT baseline computerized neurocognitive test to measure visual and verbal memory, reaction time, and processing speed. It takes 20 minutes and gives providers objective data to evaluate a patient’s post-injury condition and aids in tracking recovery.
• If the patient has already taken a baseline test elsewhere, then the post-injury test results will be compared to the baseline scores and or/normative data.

Fees for concussion treatment are usually covered by insurance without additional cost to the patient. Claims will be submitted to insurance by the Orthopedic Performance Institute.

When treatment for a concussion becomes necessary, call (210) 545-7171, ext. 404 for a STAT appointment with Dr. Alexandra Matthews.

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Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that affects your joints. It causes pain, swelling and stiffness. If joints on one side of your body have rheumatoid arthritis, usually the joints on the other side do too. It can affect any joint in the body. Rheumatoid arthritis can also make you feel sick and tired, and sometimes get fevers.

What’s the difference between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis (OA)?

RA is an autoimmune disorder that produces inflammatory joint symptoms throughout the body. OA is a degenerative condition that is the result of increased wear and tear on joints. OA may produce inflammatory symptoms as well, but it primarily destroys joint cartilage over time.

Both RA and OA are more prevalent in women than in men. RA can develop in patients aged 30 to 60 at any time. OA generally develops later in life. Courses of treatment can also vary.

What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?

Symptoms can range from mild to severe, including:

• Tender, warm and swollen joints
• Swollen joints on both sides of the body, such as your hands and wrists
• Swelling in other joints, including the neck, shoulders, elbows, hip, knees, ankles and feet
• A feeling of weariness and low energy
• Fever
• Pain and stillness lasting more than 30 minutes in the morning
• Symptoms that go on for years

What causes RA?

Doctors don’t know the exact cause, but they have identified several factors, The immune system normally attacks invaders to the body, such as a cold virus or bacteria, but with this type of arthritis, a person’s immune system attacks his or her own body tissues. Researchers are learning many things about why and how this happens.

Other causes of RA may include:

• Inherited genes
• Environmental factors
• Hormones

Is there a test for RA?

There is no single specific test. It can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are often the same as other kinds of joint disease and can take time to fully develop. Doctors use medical history, a physical exam, x-rays, imaging tests and lab tests to make a diagnosis.

How is RA treated?

Fortunately, physicians have many ways to treat the disease, including medications, surgery, regular check-ups and complementary therapies.

Most people with RA take medications to relieve pain, reduce swelling and to stop the disease from getting worse. What a doctor prescribes depends on:

• Your general healh
• How serious the disease is
• How serious it will become
• How long you will take the drug and how well it will work
• Possible side-effects

Depending upon the severity of the disease, surgery may be recommended. It can help to:

• Reduce pain
• Help your joint work more effectively
• Help you to resume your daily activities

Regular medical check-ups are essential in order for your doctor to:

• See if the disease is worsening
• Monitor the effectiveness of the medications
• Check for adverse side-effects
• Change treatment as necessary

Complementary therapies include special diets, vitamins and behavioral changes such as weight loss and joint care.

“Here are OPI we use a multi-disciplinary team approach to treating rheumatoid arthritis,” says Dr. Alexandra S. Matthews. “Often we work with rheumatologists, physical therapists and other health care providers to ensure maximal improvement in pain and quality of life.”

If you have any of the symptoms described above, contact Orthopedic Performance Institute today.

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What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent form of arthritis, afflicting 30.8 million adults in the United States.

Osteoarthritis is a disease that damages the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint. This allows the bones to rub together. The rubbing causes pain, swelling and loss of motion of the joint. Over time, the joint may lose its normal shape.

The condition can cause bone spurs to grow on the edges of the joint. Bits of bone or cartilage can break off and float inside the joint space, which causes more pain and damage. Unlike some other forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis affects only joints and not internal organs.

Who can get it?

Osteoarthritis occurs most often in older people. Younger people sometimes get the disease after joint injuries.

What are the symptoms?

Osteoarthritis can occur in any joint, but it occurs most often in the hands, knees, hips and spine. Warning signs are:

• Stiffness in a joint after getting out of bed or sitting for a long time.
• Swelling or tenderness in one or more joints.
• A crunching feeling or the sound of bone rubbing on bone.

What causes osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis usually happens gradually over time. Some things that might make it more likely include:

• Being overweight
• Getting older
• Joint injury
• Joints that are not properly formed
• A genetic defect in joint cartilage
• Stresses on the joints from certain jobs and playing sports

Is there a test for the condition?

Most doctors use several methods to diagnose the disease and rule out other problems:

• Ask you about your medical and family history.
• Give you a physical exam.
• X-rays of the bone or images of the soft tissues in the joint.
• Other tests such as blood tests or examination of the fluid in the joints.

How is it treated?

There are many treatments that can help relieve pain and help you live with osteoarthritis. You should talk to your doctor about the best treatments for you, which can include:

• Medicines
• Non-drug pain relief techniques
• Complementary and alternative therapies
• Surgery

“Today there are many surgical and non-surgical options to decrease or stop arthritic pain,” said Orthopedic Performance Institute’s Dr. Alexandra S. Matthews. “We individualize treatment plans, based on our patient’s concerns, needs and comfort levels. We also use a holistic approach, discussing nutrition and exercise as well as medical interventions.”

If you are feeling any of the symptoms of osteoarthritis, catching it early is crucial. Contact Orthopedic Performance Institute in San Antonio for an appointment today.

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