Tendonitis is a common injury that occurs on tendons, typically due to repetitive action. The tendon is a thick cord-like structure that attaches bones to muscles. When a repetitive action strains the tendon, it becomes inflamed and irritated, causing pain and discomfort. Furthermore, other causes for tendonitis include arthritis, gout, and adverse reactions to certain types of medicine.

Tendonitis isn’t just work or exercise-related, as tendons tend to lose elasticity with age and furthermore, the inflammation can even cause an infection within the tendon sheath. What’s more, the shoulders, heels, elbows, and wrists are mostly affected by tendonitis.

Tendonitis and Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been hailed as an incredibly useful treatment for tendonitis since 1990 as studies in The Clinical Journal of Pain came to light.The studies revealed that participants who suffered from shoulder tendinitis had their pain reduced considerably, as well as be able to return to daily activities, move their shoulder, and regain strength after a single acupuncture treatment.

Tendonitis pain and Acuncture Therapy

Acupuncture alleviates the symptoms, through several mechanisms.

• It stimulates the nervous system to release chemical compounds like endorphins in the brain, spinal cord, and muscles. Hence, these chemicals alter the perception of pain and promote a sense of well-being.
• Acupuncture has anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, it triggers the release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors, which aid in the reduction of swelling and inflammation around the affected tendon.
• It enhances blood circulation to the area around the inserted needles, thus, promoting healing and recovery by supplying more oxygen and nutrients to the inflamed tissues.

Acupuncture needles are inserted in acupoints on the meridians of the body, thus, alleviating pain and restoring circulation to the area. Finally, healing occurs and  the swelling disappears. When needles are placed at the point of the injury, correcting the disharmony in the body, the flow improve, therefore restores the imbalance and heals.

References

• Neal BS, Longbottom J. Is there a role for acupuncture in the treatment of tendinopathy? Acupunct Med. 2012 Dec;30(4):346-9. 
• Zhou Y, Chen C, Yang Y, Yu H, Yang Z. Acupuncture therapy for tennis elbow: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Feb 5;100(5):e24402.
• Hennessy MS, Molloy AP, Sturdee SW. Noninsertional Achilles tendinopathy. Foot Ankle Clin. 2007 Dec;12(4):617-41, vi-vii.
• Lin W, Liu CY, Tang CL, Hsu CH. Acupuncture and small needle scalpel therapy in the treatment of calcifying tendonitis of the gluteus medius: a case report. Acupunct Med. 2012 Jun;30(2):142-3.