Preventing & Treating Tendonitis

Preventing & Treating Tendonitis Tendonitis is a common ailment among healthcare workers. Repetitive movement of hands and arms for routine procedures can take its toll after some time.

Symptoms of Tendonitis Tendinitis is similar to tendonitis, but requires different treatment. Tendonitis refers to large-scale acute (sudden, short-term) injuries with inflammation.

Tendonitis can occur in various other parts of the body, including the elbow, wrist, finger, or thigh. It is caused by overusing a tendon or injuring it, as may happen during sport, however, with medical personnel it generally involves the hands and wrists. Tendonitis can affect people of any age, but is more common among adults who do a lot of sports or repetitive motion.

Elderly individuals are also susceptible to tendonitis because our tendons tend to lose their elasticity and become weaker as we get older.

Related: Wound Care in Diabetic Patients What is a Tendon?

A tendon is tissue which attaches muscle to bone. It is flexible, tough and fibrous and is capable of withstanding tension. A ligament extends from bone to bone at a joint, while a tendon extends from muscle to bone.

Tendons and muscles work together and can only exert a pulling force.

Although tendons and ligaments are tough and fibrous, they are referred to as soft tissue, because of their common comparison to bone or cartilage.

Inflamed tendons (tendonitis) are more likely to get ruptured. With nurses, the constant movement of taking blood pressures, pulse, temperatures, and administering shots, can overwork tendons in the hands or wrist and make you, more prone to tendonitis. Pain or cramping hands can put a halt in your day, and make the work extremely painful, and at times impossible.

Tendonitis symptoms occur where the tendon attaches to a bone; and usually include: Pain - if the affected area is moved the pain worsens, a feeling that the tendon is crackling or grating as it moves. This sensation is more common on examination. Swelling in the affected area. The affected area may be hot and red. A lump that develops along the tendon, If there is a rupture a gap may be felt in the line of the tendon and movement will be very difficult.

Causes of tendonitis The condition is commonly caused by repetition of a particular movement over time. It can also be caused by a sudden injury. The dental hygienist is the number one group that shows signs of tendonitis before the age of 30.

Nurses are not far behind, between charting, and close up hands on work with patients, the hand, and wrists are in constant use during your work shift.

Treatment for tendonitis As a nurse, you can't really stop the activity that affects the tendons, if you continue to work; the hands will have repetitive movement. There are some things you can do to help ease symptoms, and improve the health of the wrists and hands. Try doing routine procedures differently, holding your hands in different positions. It will take some adjustments to hold items differently; however, with some practice it can be done. Try alternating the way items are held and procedures are done. Stretch hands, wrists, and arms in between patients. Be sure to extend the arms and move into a stretched position to get blood flowing freely.

Strength training will help to ensure muscles are in top shape and put less stress on tendons.

Related: Medical Mysteries and Miracles When muscles and tendons become sore, trying some treatments on your own may stop future problems. Many people find wearing support wristbands can help, if tight enough it can encourage you to use your wrist in a different position. Try putting ice on swollen wrists or hands that are cramping, bags of frozen vegetables will mold to the shape of the hand and wrist. Anti-inflammatory medications can prevent and reduce swelling and help eliminate pain to make movement more tolerable. If pain persists, visit an orthopedic specialist to determine what steps should be pursued next.

As a nurse you can't avoid using the BP cuff, etc., but you can train yourself to maneuver it in different ways to give hands and wrists a break from repetitive movements.

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