Does Physiotherapy Help Biceps Tendonitis? It's not helping mine.

Can physiotherapy for tendonitis actually prolong or inflame it?

I have been seeing someone for about two weeks for bicep tendonitis and possibly a little tennis elbow.

After almost two weeks of friction and heavy massage as well as some acupuncture into the tendon/tendons I feel in a worse state.

I can't seem to take part effectively in the usual activities I was doing two weeks ago, such as typing.

Is this how it goes? I wasn't feeling that bad before, even though, I guess it could be considered a recurring problem as I have suffered with it for a while.

I also hadn't been told that after acupuncture I would feel more sore in the muscles for a few days when using them, so I'm not sure what to think.

Does a person usually restrict themselves from activities shortly after acupuncture?

What is the approach that physio generally takes when tackling a problem like this?

Thank you.



----



Joshua Answers

I don't know what physiotherapy usually does for tendonitis, as their training and philosophy is often different from clinic to clinic.

Some do massage, some don't. Some use Ultrasound, some don't. Some believe in acupuncture, some don't.

Rest isn't necessarily indicated after an acupuncture treatment, but if you have an acute aspect of your Tendonitis, then it's going to flare up, period, when you do activity.

Why isn't your physiotherapy working? Maybe they're working the tissue too 'hard' and that's irritating that.

I imagine that regardless of what good things they are doing, they are not adequately dealing with the inflammation process. If you don't deal with the pain enhancing effects of inflammation, when they work on you your body is going to translate that as an attack, and it will protect you with more tightness and pain.

The Process of Inflammation is an integral part of the Tendonitis dynamic.

If one doesn't deal effectively with it, no matter what kind of Tendonitis therapy you are pursuing, it is likely to fail.




Joshua Tucker, B.A., C.M.T.
The Tendonitis Expert
www.TendonitisExpert.com