If you have ever had tendinitis, you know how painfully frustrating it is when inflamed tendons join muscle to bone by overuse or repetitive movement. Whether it is in your elbow, knee, or shoulder, the constant ache makes simple tasks seem like a struggle.

The good news is that massage therapy does help in treating tendinitis. If you are tired of pain or not finding relief through traditional methods, perhaps it is time to explore how massage can help. It may maybe something you have not considered, but it will make a lot of difference. Let me take you through the way massage works for tendinitis and why it is worth trying.

What is Tendinitis?

Before getting into how massage can treat tendinitis, let me quickly break down what the actual definition of tendinitis is. In summary, tendinitis defines the inflammation of the tendons, causing irritation and thus leading to pain and discomfort. You usually notice this after typing, playing sports, or even gardening.Tendinitis can appear in a lot of your body parts, but some common places are the elbows, shoulders, wrists, or knees. If left unaddressed, it would only get worse with time and may even impair one’s range of motion. That is why it is important to find an effective treatment that works for you, which is where massage comes in.

How Massage Helps in the Treatment of Tendinitis

Massage treatment is not just for relaxation, massage can be a powerful tool that works wonders on the muscles and tissues of a person’s body. Anytime anyone receives a massage, it serves to increase blood flow in an area of injury. Increased blood circulation means more participation by oxygen and nutrients delivered into your tissues, thus promoting their healing.

Massage also breaks down scar tissue. If you have had tendinitis for a long time, scar tissue could have formed around the inflamed tendon. It is this tissue that disables movement and furthers the pain. In breaking up the scar tissue, massage increases flexibility and decreases pain.

Secondly, massage therapy reduces muscle tension. Constriction of muscles affects the tendons negatively since they may be strained by the tightness thus aggravating the tendinitis. A massage would relax these muscles and ease the stress off the tendons to allow them some time to heal.

Types of Massage for Tendinitis

Not all massages are equal, and some make better options for tendinitis than others. Here are some of the massage types through which tendinitis can be treated effectively:

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage targets the deeper layers of the muscle and connective tissue. The massage requires slow smooth strokes applied by the arm or hand to loosen tight muscle fibers and detach the connective tissue. Which can be nice in cases of chronic tendinitis where the settlement around the tendon is very tight.

Cross-Fiber Friction Massage

This type of massage works because it applies pressure perpendicularly to the tendon fibers. A big reason for this is that it helps in breaking down scar tissues and improves any blood flow concerns. Cross-friction massage is often used for tendinitis alone and it can hasten the healing process.

Myofascial Release

This is another type of manual therapy, used to elongate and soften fascia, the connective tissue around your muscles. Frequently, the overused fascia finally turns into firm or constrained from tendinitis. This can be achieved through any myofascial release practice, which aids in opening up the soft tissue and allows for better movement and less pain.

Trigger Point Therapy

The elbow pain of tendonitis is occasionally caused by muscle knots (a trigger point). This kind of massage work is called trigger point therapy and, as the name suggests, it works to release these knots by pressing on them. This could be of more benefit to you if the tendinitis is causing referred pain in other areas of your body.

When to Get a Massage for Tendinitis

If you have recently been diagnosed with tendinitis, you too probably kept on wondering when the best time was for you to start massage therapy. You want to avoid getting to work too early when you are too inflamed. Typically, you should massage lightly when the acute inflammation has gone down. Most often, this is after the initial 48 hours of rest and ice. Once the inflammation has subsided, you can begin massage treatments. A Licensed Massage Therapist will also know how to work around your injury without exacerbating it further. Also, make your body listen. Then, go more slowly. If the pressure feels wrong, or if something doesn’t feel right to you during the massage, speak up!

Benefits of Massage for Tendinitis

Pain relief is about basic level care, and massage therapy does much more than that. One of the most immediate effects that you’ll notice is less tension. Your body overcompensates by tightening other muscles (which causes more pain) when you have tendinitis. 

Massage helps release those muscles so that your body can take a well-deserved rest. Better circulation is another plus. Circulation is king for recovery—bringing O2 and other nutrients to the area in need and increasing the speed of healing.

This circulation can be helped along by massage therapy so that your tendon gets the blood flow it needs to naturally heal itself. In addition, continuous massage therapy services can enhance your flexibility and range of motion. 

The pain it causes can stiffen an affected joint, but a good massage mobilizes the joint by relaxation of the muscles and breakdown of scar tissue. Lastly, massage decreases stress and anxiety. One of the most challenging parts about chronic pain or any disability is dealing with it every day, and unfortunately, stress can make your symptoms worse. Because it calms the mind down, massage helps you be at ease and less focused on your pain.

Massage at Home vs. Professional Massage

While professional massage therapy is super effective, there are going to be times when you can’t or won’t be able to get to one. Of course, that doesn’t mean you’re screwed. Ways to treat tendinitis at home: 

First of all, who doesn’t love a good self-image? 

Treat yourself by using your hands or a massage tool on the painful area and temporarily break up the spasm. Massage the tender area for 10-15 minutes to increase blood flow and relax the muscles. You should be gentle about it, though; it’s a sensitive spot. The last thing you ever want to do is put too much tension on an already inflamed tendon.

Another great way to release tension out of the surrounding muscles involves the use of a foam roller. As you slowly roll over the tight muscles, you are releasing pressure and increasing flexibility in them. At-home massage should never replace professional therapy, but it can certainly help you support yourself in managing your symptoms between appointments.

Other Complementaries to Massage Therapy

Massage treatments are an excellent way to cure it, but including it with other techniques would bring out more effective results. Stretching and strengthening exercises will generally speed up recovery from tendinitis. A physical therapist can show you exercises that will strengthen the muscles around your tendon to help reduce stress and further injury to your tendon.

The use of ice therapy is also another good modality for treatment, especially following a massage. It cuts down any residual inflammation and soothes soreness by applying ice to the affected area for 10-15 minutes.

If your tendinitis is a notch above mild, then it will be the best mile to seek a doctor for treatments that may be more complex. Sometimes, one may even need anti-inflammatory medication or injections to reduce inflammation of the affected parts before massage can take place.

Massage therapy is a gentle yet effective modality of treatment for tendinitis. It improves blood flow, breaks down scar tissue, and reduces muscle tension of these accelerate the process through which your body heals an injury. While one should indeed wait until inflammation has reduced before starting massage therapy, once this is done, one is likely to notice considerable improvement in symptoms.

This will be a painful frustrating and debilitating disease, but it doesn’t have to take over one’s life. Massage therapy can help reduce the pain and restore flexibility so you are back doing what you love best. You can choose to visit a professional or try some simple self-massage techniques at home, but massage happens to be a natural, effective way known to support your healing process. It pays to remember that your massage therapy works best when complemented with stretches, strengthening exercises, and other forms of self-care.

 

FAQ’s

1. Does massage therapy completely heal tendinitis?

Massage can help alleviate symptoms of, and speed up the recovery from, tendinitis. Keep in mind that in most instances, tendinitis happens due to overuse or repetitive strain. While massage treats tendinitis, if you do not make any changes in your life to avoid the root cause of the condition, it may reoccur. Massage combined with rest, stretching, and lifestyle adjustment will ensure long-term relief.

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2. How often should I have massage therapy for tendinitis?

Massage therapy frequency can depend on the severity of your tendinitis. If your pain is at a moderate level, you may find that a session once a week is in order until your symptoms improve. In less serious cases, you can begin every two weeks and adjust according to how your body feels. Always listen to your body and consult a therapist for personalized recommendations.

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3. Does massage hurt if a person has tendinitis?

Some discomfort during a deep-tissue or friction massage is normal, mainly when there is scar tissue around the tendon or tension in that respect. However, pain should never be unbearable. If the massage is just too painful, let your therapist know. They might adjust the pressure or try a different technique simply because an effective treatment does not need to be uncomfortable.

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4. How to Self-Massage Tendonitis at Home?

Self-massage techniques may help with the symptoms of tendinitis. Press into the area for about 10 to 15 minutes. Be careful not to put too much pressure on that inflamed tendon, as it can make the problem worse. A foam roller for surrounding muscles may be used to release tension and improve mobility.

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