Tendons are the bands of tissue attaching bones to muscles. Muscles contract to make tendons move bones. When tendons get inflamed or irritated, they lose the ability to glide smoothly and movement becomes painful. This condition is known as tendonitis or tendinitis.

The most common areas that get affected by tendonitis are the elbows, shoulders, knees, hips, wrists, base of the thumb and achilles tendon. Tendonitis can affect men and women of all ages but there is a greater chance of it affecting those over 40 since aging causes tendons to lose their flexibility and become hard.

The symptoms of tendonitis include pain during movement, redness and inflammation in the area. As tendonitis progresses, even a simple touch can cause pain. Sometimes there is a burning sensation.

There are several causes of tendonitis:

• Repetitive motion
• Excessive exercise
• Exercising without warming up
• Hard manual work
• An injury that has not healed
• Rheumatoid arthritis and gout

Natural remedies for tendonitis:

• The best remedy is to allow the affected area to rest. Allow at least 3 weeks to recover
• Stop exercising or stop the repetitive activity causing pressure.
• Support the area with braces or straps.
• Gentle massage
• Physical therapy
• Herbs such as Boswellia and Turmeric are excellent for reducing inflammation. Herbal ayurvedic formulations such as Rumalaya Forte and Rumalaya Gel which contain Boswellia and other herbs and minerals are very effective in helping to reduce the pain and inflammation of tenditinis while recovering.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs are sometimes prescribed along with corticosteroids. However these generally have side effects are not good for long term use.

Holiday shopping and
holiday feasting may make you a prime candidate for a case of plantar
fasciitis. Prolonged walking or standing and an increase in body
weight are two leading causes of plantar fasciitis, a painful overuse
injury affecting the sole of the foot, warns the American Orthopaedic
Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS).

According to the AOFAS, plantar fasciitis typically starts gradually
with mild heel pain. The pain classically occurs with the first step
in the morning. Treatment options include stretching exercises, and
modifying activities until the initial inflammation goes away. Ice
application to the sore area for 20 minutes three or four times a day
may also relieve symptoms. Your orthopaedic surgeon may also
prescribe a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. But your
best course of action is a routine of home exercises to stretch the
Achilles tendon and plantar fascia.

Benedict DiGiovanni, MD, Associate Professor, Department of
Orthopaedics at the University of Rochester Medical Center (NY) and
active AOFAS member, treats many patients with plantar fasciitis. He
offers the following suggestions on treatment options. “A key
component of a plantar fascia specific stretching program is when it
is performed and how often. Based on findings from our research
work, I instruct patients to perform the stretch prior to the first
step in the morning and prior to weight bearing after periods of
inactivity, such as sitting for lunch or driving in the car. Most
patients will perform the stretch 4 - 5 times per day for the first
month of treatment, and then as needed based on symptoms. Patients
are also instructed to stretch the Achilles tendon twice a day,
morning and evening. In addition to stretching exercises, we suggest
ice, over the counter anti-inflammatory medicine, and inexpensive
over the counter soft arch supports.”

Plantar fasciitis has been known to side-line major league athletes
such as the recent case with New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
Ninety percent of people with plantar fasciitis improve
significantly after two months of initial treatment. Shoes with
shock-absorbing soles or over the counter arch supporting inserts may
help alleviate pain. Another treatment protocol is taping the foot
to support the arch and plantar fascia. If heel pain continues after
a few months of conservative treatment, your orthopaedic surgeon may
suggest heel injections with steroidal anti-inflammatory medications.
Walking casts or positional splints are other options for treatment
of plantar fasciitis.

Treatment of plantar fasciitis is important because it has the
potential of turning into a chronic condition. Plantar fasciitis may
prevent you from keeping up with your current level of activity and
you may also develop symptoms of foot, knee, hip and back problems
because of the way plantar fasciitis changes the way you walk.

The AOFAS website www.aofas.org contains public education resources
on the treatment of plantar fasciitis including a specific stretching
program to alleviate the pain. The site also features a surgeon
referral service that makes it easy for patients to find a local
orthopaedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle care.

Source
American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Surgeons

Experiencing heel pain upon standing or walking is a common occurrence. Unless we have an injury or condition that does not allow us to use our feet, many of us spend a great deal of time on our feet each day, and this can stress them. There is a variety of causes for why so many people feel heel pain.  Some are serious, while others are simple enough to correct.  Heel pain can sometimes be felt even when a person is sitting or lying down because tissues of the foot are inflamed or irritated, and results in continuous pain. Severe foot conditions can cause heel pain intense enough to interfere with the mobility of individuals suffering from them.

Health, activity level, injury, and even the kind of shoes that you wear can all result in plantar fasciitis.

Health issues such as diabetes and obesity lead the list for possible causes. Diabetics are susceptible to developing nerve damage in the foot due to their disease and this can result in severe plantar fasciitis and serious complications if left untreated. Overweight individuals place added stress on their feet, which have to balance the excess weight. This can cause discomfort and other painful foot symptoms. Losing weight and wearing supportive footwear can help eliminate heel and other foot pain.

Heel pain is an equal-opportunistic condition in that it can strike super-active people as well as those who are less active. Straining and pulling injuries resulting in heel injury can occur.  A torn Achilles tendon can result in sharp, stinging heel-pain that can increase with movement or with weight placed on the affected foot. Sometimes splinting and resting the foot will allow the Achilles tendon to repair itself, while serious tendon tears often require a surgical fix.

Plantar Fasciitis is another possible cause for heel pain and the most commonly diagnosed condition affecting the foot.  This foot problem marked by sharp heel-pains often begins when you first get out of bed in the morning.

Bad-fitting shoes and wearing shoes that are not appropriate for the activity you are engaging in or for the terrain you are traversing upon are also possible causes for this foot problem. Choosing to forego wearing any footwear at all and walking or running on harsh surfaces, can also bring about this conditions. High heel shoes are possible causes for heel problems in many women.  Wearing these shoes results in an unequal distribution of a woman’s weight, and this can stress the feet and cause problems.

If you are experiencing heel spurs that does not go away after a day of elevating and resting the foot, consult with your doctor. Those people having diabetes should notify their health care provider immediately should they begin experiencing heel pain, as this could be a sign of a more serious foot condition.