Forearm Exercises For Tendonitis
Jonathan Bailin, Ph.D.
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Subject: Forearm Exercises For Tendonitis
From: Sharon K Lee., O.T.R., C.H.T--Panel Member
MHIrsiModerated
Dear J.C.:
Thank you for asking about this important topic.
Tendonitis/tenosynovitis can be a very complex injury. As I'm sure
you well know, your status may change from hour to hour (or literally
minute to minute depending upon your activity). Your pain/discomfort
level for any given day or time period, dictates what type of
"treatment" you should have.
Tendonitis may originally be caused from a weakened muscle and
therefore cause an imbalance in the way your joints are being used
however, when a tendon is inflamed, you do not want to stress it
further by attempting to strengthen it. It is important to be pain
free prior to initiating strengthening exercises.
Your program for stretching and strengthening really needs to be
monitored closely and adjusted according to the amount and type of
pain that you have. You should know that pain is interpreted
differently from person to person and that people have widely varying
pain tolerances.
You have to be able to distinguish between discomfort and muscle
fatigue verses further aggravation and inflammation of the tendon. On
the other hand, you don't want to key into your pain so much that it
truly limits everything you do. You need to slowly and gradually
increase your activity level and strengthening program in order to
resume pre-injury levels. This may take a period of several months
and it is important to be patient.
It definitely is NOT a "no pain no gain" situation. Remember, it is
always easier to add more resistance/repetitions to your program but
once you overdo it, it may take days/weeks to get back to a pain free
level.
Best of Luck,
Sharon Lee, OTR
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>Dear RSI panel:
>
>I just read the FAQ and found it helpful, but I have a question:
I was recently diagnosed with forearm tendinitis/tenosynovitis and
referred for physical therapy. The therapist (an occupation therapist
specializing in hands) put me on a daily regimen of warm soaks,
stretching and forearm/wrist strengthening exericses--i.e., wrist
curls, hammer exercises and putty squeezing/pinching.
>
>Having read the Pascarelli book, I'm concerned--and confused. He
specifically advises against "work hardening" or forearm/wrist
strengthening. My therapist insists that it's weakness in the forearms
that is causing the pulling and damage to the tendon when I'm typing,
and solution is strengthening. I do the hot soaks and stretching but
have replaced the forearm exercises with exercises for the upper arm,
shoulders and back, using 3 lb dumbbells. I would love to know what
your opinion is on the matter, and appreciate any insights you could
provide.
>
>Thanks very much.
>--J.C.
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Jonathan Bailin, Ph.D.--Moderator
Usenet Newsgroup: "misc.health.injuries.rsi.moderated" WWW: "http://www.ctdrn.org/mhirm/"
Exercise Physiology-Ergonomics-Biomechanics
University of Southern California---- R...@USC.EDU
-My opinions, and those of the panel, are not to be substituted for medical advice
and do not represent those of the University.
+++ To post you MUST read!---> "(FAQ) Must Read Me Before Posting! ('99)" +++
Copyright (C) 1999 Jonathan Bailin, Ph.D.
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