Réhabital
Tendinitis Treatment in Côte Saint-Luc
The word "tendinitis" is used for almost any pain around a tendon, but tendons that have hurt for more than a few weeks are rarely inflamed in the strict sense: they are instead going through a process of degeneration and adaptation called tendinopathy. Whether the pain is in the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee or Achilles tendon, the underlying mechanism is often similar — an imbalance between the load placed on the tendon and its capacity to tolerate it. At Réhabital in Côte Saint-Luc, we identify the tendon involved, the stage of the condition, and the loading factors sustaining it, then build a progressive rehabilitation program grounded in evidence rather than complete rest.
Book an AppointmentUnderstanding This Condition
Tendinopathy presents differently depending on the tendon involved. At the shoulder, rotator cuff tendinopathy, particularly of the supraspinatus, causes pain with arm elevation and often at night when lying on the affected side. At the elbow, lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) affects the wrist extensors and shows up as pain gripping objects, while medial epicondylitis (golfer's elbow) affects the flexors. At the knee, patellar tendinopathy, common in athletes who jump a lot (volleyball, basketball), causes a precise pain below the kneecap on landing. At the hip, gluteal (abductor) tendinopathy causes lateral pain reproduced by lying on the side or climbing stairs. At the heel, Achilles tendinopathy splits into a mid-portion form linked to running and abrupt changes in training volume, and an insertional form near the heel bone, often associated with a bony spur. In all cases, the central concept is the tendon continuum: a reactive phase (recent pain, tendon irritated by a one-off overload), a dysrepair phase (progressive collagen disorganization) and a degenerative phase (chronic structural changes, sometimes only mildly painful at rest but fragile under load). Recognizing the stage directly guides the type and pace of loading to prescribe.
Common Symptoms
Common Causes
Too rapid an increase in training load
A sudden rise in volume, intensity or frequency of a sport — running, jumping, weight training — exceeds the tendon's capacity to adapt. This is the most common cause of tendinopathy in active and recreational athletes.
Proximal strength or motor control deficit
Weakness of the rotator cuff, glutes or trunk forces the distal tendon to absorb excessive load. Correcting this upstream deficit is often essential to resolving a recurring tendinopathy.
Repeated positional compression
Some tendons, like the gluteal tendon at the hip or the Achilles near its insertion, are sensitive to compression against a bony prominence. Positions like crossing the legs or overly rigid footwear worsen the pain.
Metabolic and systemic factors
Diabetes, high cholesterol, menopause and certain medications (notably fluoroquinolones) alter the quality of tendon collagen and raise the risk of tendinopathy, sometimes without any obvious mechanical overload.
Returning too quickly after a rest period
After a training break (injury, vacation, winter), the tendon loses some of its load capacity. Resuming at the same level as before the break is a common cause of relapse.
Our Treatment Approach
Our assessment identifies the exact tendon involved using specific load tests (painful arc and cuff tests at the shoulder, Cozen's test at the elbow, single-leg hop test at the knee, side-lying load test at the hip, single-leg hop test for the Achilles), targeted palpation, and a review of your loading and training history. Physiotherapy, with Colin Teghen Tamuton, applies evidence-based load-management principles for tendinopathy: isometric exercises for pain control in the acute phase, then progression to eccentric and heavy-slow-resistance exercises, and finally reintroduction of the specific sport or functional movement. Osteopathy, with Shahram Ghasemi, addresses upstream joint restrictions and postural imbalances — shoulder, hip, spine — that increase load on the symptomatic tendon. Massage therapy relieves chronically tight associated muscles. We avoid prolonged complete rest, which further weakens the tendon, in favor of a temporary, measured load modification.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
The first visit lasts about 60 minutes: detailed loading history, specific tests of the suspected tendon, and an explanation of the tendinopathy stage. You leave with one or two isometric or strengthening exercises matched to your pain level, along with clear guidance on activities to maintain, modify, or temporarily reduce.
At-Home Self-Care Tips
- Avoid complete rest; maintain a tolerable load rather than stopping entirely.
- Apply the acceptable-pain rule (≤ 3-4/10 during and after activity).
- Progress training load gradually, roughly 10% per week.
- Avoid aggressive stretching of compressive tendons (hip, insertional Achilles).
- Apply ice after activity if pain is sharp, without overusing it in the chronic phase.
- Regularly strengthen proximal muscles (cuff, glutes, trunk) even without pain.
Prognosis & Recovery Timeline
A recent reactive tendinopathy often responds within 2 to 6 weeks to load modification and isometric exercises. Established chronic tendinopathies, notably at the Achilles or patella, generally require 3 to 6 months of progressive load-based rehabilitation for lasting improvement. Consistency with the exercise program directly influences the speed of recovery.
When to See Us at Réhabital
Come in if tendon pain persists beyond two weeks despite adjusting your activities, or if it limits your sport, work or sleep. See a physician promptly for pain following an audible snap and sudden loss of function, which can indicate a partial or complete tendon rupture.
Why Réhabital Clinic
In Côte Saint-Luc, we treat every tendinopathy — shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, Achilles — with the same rigor: identify the stage, dose the load, and progress methodically. Our plans adapt to your sport, work and schedule.
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Address
D4-5800 Cavendish Blvd
Côte Saint-Luc, QC H4W 2T5
Phone
(438) 842-3550Hours
Mon–Fri: 10AM–8PM
Sun: 10AM–4PM
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