Heat & Cold Therapy for Tendonitis

Tendonitis, formally called tendinitis, can result for a variety of reasons, including injury, overuse and loss of elasticity that comes with aging, according to the National Institutes of Health. Tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon, which is what connects muscle to bone. Reducing inflammation will reduce pain and eventually the condition will go away.

Cold Treatment

• Application of a cold pack or ice should be within the first 24 to 48 hours of injury or onset of tendonitis. Apply it 20 minutes on the affected area. Ice or cold packs reduce swelling and numb the external injured area to reduce pain. After 48 hours, ice may help the area feel better, but it will not prevent or reduce swelling further.

Heat Treatment

• Applying heat to the affected area increases blood flow by opening the blood vessels around the tendon. Blood flow is a key component to heal the tendon. Heating can be in the form of an electric heat pack or an ice/heat pack that can be microwaved or put in hot water. Apply heat 48 hours after the injury or the onset of tendonitis. Apply it for 20 minutes.

Additional Treatment

• Doctors often recommend cold and heat treatments in addition to rest and over-the-counter anti-inflammation medications such as ibuprofen. The most important aspect of treatment is resting the injured tendon. Tendonitis can be a chronic condition.