Dealing with Arm Tendonitis

Arm tendonitis is caused by stress to the tendons in the arm or shoulder area. It can be brought on by injury from activities like lifting heavy objects or overuse while exercising. Often symptoms appear slowly so that is is difficult to point to any one event.

What occurs is that the tendons become inflamed and sore making full, pain free use of the arm impossible. Symptoms manifest themselves in pain and swelling, stiffness following exercise, and pain from lying side while sleeping.

Lifting weights too vigorously when beginning an exercise program after limited muscle activity often leads to stiffening of the muscles and tendons. Then, because ordinary daily activities require continuous use of our arms, people who suffer arm tendonitis often heal slowly.

The Goal to Increase Arm Strength

If the arm is painful and swollen, continued use will only make the condition worse. A trained therapist or personal coach can help you devise a program which will increase your arm strength. Initially, ice and pain relievers may help with the pain but the long term goal should be to slowly increase muscle and tendon strength. If there is a lot of inflammation and swelling you might first want to take anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the inflammation. This will allow for greater comfort when beginning a strength training program.

Arm tendonitis tends to be recurring so a sensible approach to prevention is a wise choice. If you are starting on a strength training program it is very important for you to warm up with stretches before each session. Begin your training program slowly, allowing your tendons and muscles time to adjust to the new activity. If you feel that your arm is becoming fatigued you might want to give it a rest. Don’t try pushing strength training too fast. If possible, limit your arm activity until the tendon has time to start healing. Wearing a sling may be helpful in supporting your arm’s weight and providing immobility.

Arm Tendonitis and Surgery

At its worst, arm tendonitis will result in tendon rupture or damage requiring repair. If this occurs, surgery may be your only option. In most cases, only a small incision is necessary to repair the tendon. After recovery is underway, physical therapy and proper exercises will enable you to regain full, pain free use and mobility in your arm. Learn form the experience and avoid having to suffer a debilitating arm tendonitis injury in the future.

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