What could be causing your tendon pain?

Research into causes of tendon pain is an exciting and ever developing area of physiotherapy. Overuse or overloading of tendons has been recognised as a major contributing factor to tendinopathy. However this often still occurs in sedentary individuals without a history of mechanically overloading their tendons through any particular activity.

Having a sedentary lifestyle is linked with higher levels of obesity which fits in with a model of long term mechanical overload though increased body weight. Additionally the systemic health risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle also seem quite a significant determinant of developing tendon pain.

A recent systematic review of current research literature has shown strong links between high cholesterol, altered tendon structure and tendon pain. This means there is likely a significant metabolic contribution to the development of these symptoms, as well as the theory of a mechanical overload. It is likely combinations of these factors are at play, which for some individuals creates a perfect storm for developing longstanding tendon problems.

Physiotherapy treatment of tendon pain has traditionally centred on optimisation of the load being transferred through the problematic tendon.

Exercise in an aquatic environment is particularly useful in this instance due to the buoyancy of water allowing for a graded exposure to loading.

The other benefits of exercising in an aquatic therapy pool in this instance are that you can work on your general fitness as part of a weight loss programme and potentially improve the systemic health of your body’s tissues whilst reducing the risk of further mechanical overload and developing further pain.