Introduction

How to speed up tendon healing? This is a common question if you are an athlete engaging in games or vigorous workouts and are prone to sustaining a muscle or ligament injury.

Games or workouts do not solely cause tendon injuries; you may get one by slipping on a wet floor or a stair misstep.

However, physical therapy is more significant in your recovery plan despite the injury. Recovering from a tendon injury needs patience and perseverance.

Unfortunately, tendons, unlike muscles, have limited blood flow, affecting self-healing. Your road to recovery can be hectic, but what if you could speed up tendon healing?

Tendons Explained

Tendons are strong fibrous tissues that establish a connection between bones and muscles. They facilitate movement and maintain the body’s stability.

They vary in size and shape and are rope-like thanks to their collagen fibers everywhere on the body. Tendons mechanically connecting bones to muscles provide the necessary strength for movement.

From a physical standpoint, muscle contraction induced tendon tension, which subsequently causes bone tension and joint displacement.

Tendons are rugged to withstand stress and can store and release energy to increase efficiency in movement.

A healthy tendon consists of bundles of collagen fibers that are densely packed adjacent to one another. One factor contributing to the strength of a muscle is its parallel arrangement.

Since tendons perform much work, overexertion, abruptness, excessive force, or recurrent stress can cause damage. The most common injuries include:

• Strains: Common in legs and arms and involve twisting or pulling a tendon.
• Tendonitis Develops due to repetitive motion, gradual muscle atrophy, or advancing age. Tendinitis, an alternative term for tendonitis, predominantly impacts the shoulder, hand, Achilles tendon, elbow, hip, or knee. A considerable number of athletes suffer from tennis elbow or rotator cuff tendinitis.
• Disorders: Injuries that result in microtears in tendons due to damage or repeated use. In the absence of treatment, tears have the potential to rupture and cause excruciating pain.

Tendons Healing Time

Tendonitis is an overuse injury that exceeds the tendon’s capacity to recover between sessions. Or by engaging in excessive physical activity beyond its capability.

Every tissue in our bodies, including tendons, muscles, and bones, sustains microscopic injuries during exercise. This is a regular occurrence and a mechanism by which exercise enhances strength: it instructs the brain to strengthen the worked-out body part.

Your body will require 24 to 72 hours to repair this micro-damage completely. It depends on your level of physical fitness and the intensity of your workout.

Tendon injuries may occur suddenly or gradually, resulting from various causes, including physical activities and the workplace.

Most injuries are in the joints, mainly on the shoulder, elbow, knee, knee, and hand. Tendinitis and complete tears can cause excruciating pain and immobility.

Unless the patient refuses or is incapable of undergoing surgery, a complete rupture of the tendon typically necessitates an operation.

Additionally, the following can affect the number of days required to recover:

• The injured tendon
• The extensiveness of the tendon-torn
• The activity level of the patient
• The health condition of the patient

Here’s how to speed up tendon healing:

      a. Surgical Repair of Tendons

Tendon repair surgery becomes imperative in cases where the tendon detaches from the bone due to a severe workout or injury.

Following complete reattachment of the tendon to the bone, it is necessary to immobilize or splint the tendon to promote healing.

Reattaching a tendon that has severed from the bone will call for tendon transplantation. Conversely, a tendon transfer might be required, which entails transferring a tendon from a non-injured region to an injured area.

The whole tendon healing requires distinct phases and requires time. After a muscle repair, how long does the recovery process entail? The duration of tendon healing depends on various factors.

In brief, tendon healing can occur within 12 to 16 weeks, depending on the specific nature of the injury and rupture.

Tendons are at their weakest seven to ten days following treatment. Tendon strength gradually increases from 21 to 28 days following surgery until it reaches its maximum at six months.

The ultimate tendon strength is approximately two-thirds of its pre-injury level, particularly in older people.

      b. Laser Therapy

Laser therapy is an FDA-approved analgesic for tendon injuries. It alleviates discomfort and accelerates the body’s natural healing through low-intensity light.

A pain management specialist will use a handheld device to apply low-intensity light pulses to the painful tendon during your session.

The laser beams improve blood circulation and reduce inflammation. Additionally, laser treatment stimulates the synthesis of growth factors, which promote cell regeneration and healing. This expedites the process of recovering from tendonitis.

Contrary to its name, cold laser treatment for tendinopathies is non-invasive. It is completely painless and does not require anesthesia.

Cold laser is best used in cases such as Achilles tendinopathy, rotator cuff tendonitis, calf muscle pain, lateral elbow pain, and aching shoulders.

      c. Rehab Speeds Up Tendon Healing

Deviating from the set postoperative tendon healing process may affect the tendons’ recovery. One of the side effects of improper tendon recovery is scarring, which restricts motion, stiffens joints and increases the likelihood of tendon re-injury.

In addition to restoring strength and range of motion, physical therapy will be necessary to safeguard the tendon’s healing.

The treatment will prioritize the reduction of fibrosis to enhance the strength and mobility of the repaired tendon.

Immediate muscle repair increases the likelihood that the operation will succeed and you will recover favorably. Yoga is an excellent alternative exercise that places minimal strain on the body once healed.

Rehab restores your tendons in the correct timeline and way. It improves the function of the affected area and alleviates discomfort. Additionally, it can aid in preventing both short-term and long-term issues.

Your trainer will employ various techniques to alleviate your discomfort while enhancing your strength, flexibility, and coordination. You may find that simple exercise machines such as treadmills are all you will need.

Additionally, they may recommend that you apply heat or cold to your affected part or soak in a hot bath. Additionally, massage, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation are all viable options.

Stretching routines and exercises at home will also help speed up the tendon recovery process. Combined with other measures, they facilitate a more expeditious and secure recovery.

      d. Collagen and Vitamins Help to Speed Up Tendon Healing

Collagen is a protein abundant in the body that makes up the majority of connective tissues in the body, including tendons.

It strengthens and stabilizes these tissues, which is beneficial to their health. Although other types of collagen exist, type I collagen is the most prevalent in tendons and connective tissues.

Vitamins, particularly Vitamin C, are necessary for various cellular processes, including collagen synthesis.

Additionally, it functions admirably as an antioxidant, preventing free radical injury to cells. Vitamin C is present in multiple foods, including citrus fruits, berries, and greens.

Lack of collagen can cause injury to tendons, which are necessary for their health. Exercise such as running can accelerate muscle recovery by stimulating the body’s collagen production. Changing your diet, supplementing with vitamins, or both may be of assistance.

For instance, consuming collagen-rich foods such as bone broth can assist in increasing collagen levels in the body.

Additionally, collagen pills can deliver a concentrated concentration of collagen to the body, aiding in the healing of tendons.

The following are some of the advantages of having collagen and vitamin C-rich diets in your meal plan;

• To facilitate a quicker healing for their tendons, you can supplement your body with recommended quantities of collagen and vitamin C.
• Collagen and vitamin C are two essential nutrients for maintaining healthy tendons. By having these nutrients in your diet, you ensure healthy tendons.
• Collagen and vitamin C can alleviate the discomfort and edema associated with tendon injuries, promoting a more rapid recovery.

      e. Acupuncture Therapy

Several tendinopathies may be amenable to acupuncture. Originally, acupuncture came as a result of a belief that an individual’s health is determined by the energy that circulates within the body.

In contrast, modern science has discovered that acupuncture can promote self-healing, inflammation reduction, and body healing.

Minor injuries caused by the piercing needles stimulate the body’s latent healing response. This induces cellular proliferation and the secretion of healing factors.

In addition, the needles assist in increasing blood flow to the injured body parts. Better blood circulation delivers nutrients and oxygen to the affected area, reducing tendon edema and accelerating healing.

During an acupuncture treatment, a qualified acupuncturist will insert thin needles into specific acupuncture points to target the source of your tendon discomfort and promote healing.

Conclusion

As an athlete, now you know how to speed up tendon healing. Tendon injuries are excruciatingly painful and require an extended period of recovery. Consequently, numerous athletes or workout enthusiasts seek alternative methods to expedite their recovery.

The methods discussed above, including physical therapy, Vitamin C supplements, acupuncture, and laser therapy, do the trick.

However, before trying any of the above methods or combining them, you should consult your physician and ensure they are the best option and do not cause further tendon injuries.

The physician will advise on the best way to go with the recovery process and give an estimated timeline for your recovery.