The good news is that many tendon injuries respond well to massage therapy. Both tendonitis and tendinosis, for example, benefit from friction therapy, albeit through somewhat different mechanisms. In cases of tendonitis, friction therapy breaks up scar tissue and allows aligned tissue to form. With tendinosis, friction stimulates the production of fibroblasts and collagen.
As with muscle and tendon strains, deep-tissue massage of the injury itself is contraindicated in the acute phase of any sprain. However, massaging for injury to the surrounding musculature can help reduce inflammation and speed up the recovery process. You can perform a version of massage therapy for frictional tendonitis yourself, as it involves gently rubbing back and forth over the inflamed tendon. For best results, massage therapists should start working on any tendon injury as soon as possible and as thoroughly as possible, especially in cases of tendinosis.
It's important to consult with your doctor before beginning any massage therapy for a tendon injury. They can give you a better idea of what's happening, including if you need an x-ray, ultrasound, or MRI and what are the right steps to recover, including a massage for tendonitis. Although massage therapy has a multitude of health benefits for all people, there are specific massage techniques that are specially qualified to help with tendinopathy. Not only that, but they agree that including massage in the treatment plan can improve healing time and positively influence long-term results. Unlike traditional Swedish massage, which is more superficial in nature and uses movements that run in parallel with muscle fibers, the XFF (Cross-Fiber Friction) is a more focused approach.
If you've suffered an injury, you may not be sure if it's the right time to get a massage. Tendonitis massage has proven time and again to be an effective way to heal and promote long-term health.
Massage therapies
can reduce swelling, promote blood circulation and prevent the development of adhesions. The reason to expect is that the massage increases blood circulation and this can increase the chances of edema (excess fluid is trapped in soft tissue) and bleeding (loss of blood from damaged blood vessels, also known as internal bleeding), which hinder the healing process. You should stroke slowly but with firm pressure back and forth along the area at an angle perpendicular to the muscle fibers; not in parallel as in other massage styles. In conclusion, if you have suffered an injury or are experiencing pain due to tendinopathy, it's important to consult with your doctor before beginning any type of treatment plan.Massage therapy has been proven to be an effective way to heal and promote long-term health when used correctly. Massage therapists should start working on any tendon injury as soon as possible and as thoroughly as possible for best results.
