Tendons are the connective tissues that join muscles to bone; they can be one of the weakest parts of the body and typically take quite a long time to heal. Tendinitis occurs when the tissue becomes inflamed due to overuse and injury. The benefits of acupuncture for tendinitis are many and can include relief from repetitive strain syndrome, which is one of the main causes of the condition. Sportsmen such as golfers and tennis players often experience painful swelling and burning sensations in the tendons from repeated actions and acupuncture is one of the remedies that they sometimes turn to.
It is not only sportsmen that experience tendinitis. People working in any physical endeavor can suddenly develop this often painful condition and may seek the benefits of acupuncture for tendinitis. The procedure can be performed by laser or by inserting long, thin acupuncture needles into the site of the tendinitis. The needle form of acupuncture is thought to be somewhat more effective than the laser procedure.
The symptoms of tendinitis can range from mild to severe on the pain scale and can include sharp pain or a dull, pulling sort of pain that flows in the direction of the tendon. Pain is usually felt when the tendon is under pressure. The patient’s range of motion may also be reduced. An acupuncturist will typically insert the needles into the afflicted area; however, he may also move them away from the site to reduce any inflammation that may have spread further out. Some patients also experience heat radiating from the skin and acupuncture very often alleviates this sensation as well.
Another benefit of acupuncture for tendinitis is the reduction of swelling around the tendons. This can be the result of fluid buildup in the area. To gain the most benefit from this procedure, it is recommended that patients visit an acupuncturist as soon as any of these symptoms develop. Treating the tendinitis in the early stages tends to reduce the severity of the symptoms and speed up the recovery time. If using acupuncture for tendinitis does not produce the desired results, it is probably best to follow up with a medical doctor.
Although the wrist is one of the most common sites for tendinitis, the shoulder, knee, elbow and ankle are also areas on the body where this condition can strike. Another benefit of using acupuncture for tendinitis is that there are none of the side effects associated with Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Medications (NSAIDs) that are typically used to treat tendinitis. Correctly positioned acupuncture needles also serve to promote blood circulation and have been known to reduce pain as well.