What is Tendonitis?
Tendonitis (also sometimes spelled tendinitis) is a medical term used to describe irritation, inflammation, or swelling of a tendon – a type of strong, flexible connective tissue that joins muscle to bone throughout the body, enabling us to move.
When a tendon or group of tendons is irritated, it often results in pain and achiness, tenderness, and swelling. Tendonitis can affect nearly any body part with both bone and muscle, from the arms and legs to the heels, shoulders, fingers, or neck.
It can often be traced to a repetitive motion, whether in sports, a career, or daily life, such as lifting weights or even using a hair dryer. There are several shorthand names for specific types of tendonitis that refer to their common athletic culprits, such as tennis elbow and jumper’s knee.
Can Acupuncture Help Tendonitis?
Yes, acupuncture can help tendonitis. In particular, research suggests that acupuncture treatment may improve pain, blood flow, and reduced activity associated with this condition.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture is used to balance the body’s qi, or essential energy, which in turn alleviates pain and promotes healing. Modern studies show that this ancient practice, in which tiny needles are placed in targeted points on the body by a skilled practitioner, can in fact offer pain relief, improved circulation, and better mobility for people dealing with muscle knots, sciatica, and more.
Though tendonitis is common, there’s no single, gold-standard Western medical treatment for this condition. Many doctors suggest pain relieving medicines, steroid injections, or even surgery, which may be less than ideal for some.
Another treatment called dry needling is sometimes offered by physical therapists, but there are some key differences from acupuncture to keep in mind.
Many patients certainly turn to holistic treatments like acupuncture to treat stubborn tendonitis, and ultimately find success.
What Types of Tendonitis Can Acupuncture Treat?
Acupuncture can be used to treat any type of tendonitis affecting a part of the body accessible by an acupuncturist’s needles. That means tendonitis in the neck, shoulders, back, legs, and arms, for example, are all fair game.
Acupuncture can help treat many common forms like wrist tendonitis, elbow tendonitis (tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow), Achilles tendonitis, patellar tendonitis (jumper’s knee), and shoulder tendonitis (swimmer’s shoulder).
If you’re experiencing any type of tendonitis, whether it’s been ongoing and chronic or you just noticed the problem, acupuncture is a great treatment option to try.
