Information on Tendon Tears

A tendon is a fibrous band of connective tissue that connects muscle to bone. An injury to the tendon is called a strain or tear, and rehabilitation depends largely on the degree of the tear.

Stages

• The degree of a tendon injury is classified by its designation as a first-, second- or third-degree injury. This model is based on an escalating scale. First-degree strains are minor, whereas third-degree tears are more serious.

Symptoms

• The associated pain and discomfort of a first-degree strain is quickly rehabilitated. Second-degree strains will cause significant pain, swelling and discoloration. Third-degree injuries are complete tendon tears, which disrupt muscle function resulting in significant joint instability. Third-degree tears are less painful than second-degree strains because the tendon is completely torn, not stretching or pulling.

Location

• Tendon injuries generally occur in body parts that move in more than one direction. These include the ankle, wrist, shoulder and hip.

Treatment

• With first-degree strains, rehabilitation is fast when the rules of RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) are applied soon after the injury occurs. In second-degree strains, analgesics and anti-inflammatories are prescribed for pain and swelling, in addition to the RICE rules. Third-degree tears almost always require surgical repair and long-term rehabilitation.

Prevention

• Ways to decrease the chance of a tendon injury include increasing range of motion through stretching, strengthening the musculature that surrounds the joints and using joint stability braces or athletic tape.