REHABILITATION OF TENDON INJURIES IN SPORT

Clinicians are faced with a growing number of athletes with injured te ndons. Treatment of both acute and chronic injuries has proven to be q uite complex. It is difficult to maintain the balance between resting the injured tendon and preventing atrophy of the surrounding muscles a nd joints. Questions also arise as to when the tendon should be streng thened and when the athlete is ready to return to full activity in spo rt. Through an awareness of the structural and mechanical properties o f the tendon, an exercise programme for the rehabilitation of tendon i njuries has been developed. It is recommended that this programme be u sed in combination with ice and other physical modalities. This approa ch will resolve most tendon injuries within 6 weeks of its implementat ion. The use of antiinflammatory medications and surgery can only be r ecommended in select situations where more conservative measures are i nadequate.