Massage Therapists’ Tendinitis
Dr. Edward Holtman, D.C. 48+ Years Chiropractic/Tendinitis Treatment Specialist
by Dr. Edward G. Holtman, D.C.
April 6, 2009

It is the combination of stressed muscles and stressed tendons that causes tendinitis. Each affects the other. This is exactly why, after a time, I developed the theory that, not only must we more seriously consider the muscles when treating tendinitis, but also that the true root of the tendinitis problem lies in the muscles.

One of my many articles that were published appeared in Massage and Bodywork Magazine (1996) was titled “Do Something Good For The Muscles And You Will Be Doing Something Good For The Tendons.”

This article brings to light the importance of properly treating the muscles of the involved tendons. As it happens, massage therapists do achieve some degree of beneficial results with tendinitis. But not complete results.

Any therapy that hopes to achieve complete results with tendinitis must include a set of muscle stretching exercises, not to mention proper supplementation.

Massage therapists definitely can relax muscles, however, in doing do, they tense up their own muscles, thus opening the gate for tendinitis to occur. Occur it does! I’ve had several massage therapists contact me looking for a viable solution to their own tendinitis. My method has proven to be a life-saver for them.

Are there other effective therapies out there? Yes, there are other therapies. Their effectiveness varies, and often is in question; Hands-On chiropractic can achieve excellent results when there is a neurological element involved with the tendinitis. When there is no neurological element, the results are “zip”.

If chiropractic is going to be effective, the patient will be well, or nearly well within six hands-on treatments.

Reiki? I don’t think so. Cortisone “shots”; Can be effective, but will be short-lived if the patient must return to employment that re-activates the problem. Ultrasound; hasn’t helped any patient that I have seen. Rolfing? I believe this therapy is meant to help body structure problems. Physical Therapy; I have been acquainted with only one P.T. who was treating tendinitis properly.

Most physical therapists are “going by the book”, and the book is wrong!

Mistake #1: Putting heat on the tendon, Mistake #2: “Encourage” the patient to perform muscle-work exercises, Mistake #3: Ignore the patient when they complain that the muscle-work exercises make them feel worse; then telling that same patient “No Pain, NO Gain!”

Unfortunately, many family doctors and even orthopedic surgeons are referring the tendinitis patients to physical therapists! This is another mistake!

Surgery; only as a LAST RESORT and only if the tendons have been visibly torn or ruptured.
Tendinitis is not difficult to treat if you know what to do. Yes, it is stubborn, yes, it takes time, but how long was it in the making?

People do become desperate when they have tendinitis; especially if they have had it for a year or longer. Almost everything people do requires arm work.

Tendinitis is intractable in the beginning. It then seems to go from there to impossible. But all is not lost! There is a home-self treatment that promises lasting results. Best of all, it can be accomplished at home, starting now.

No more Doctor’s office visits, No more P.T. (Physical Therapy) appointments, No More Money ‘going down the drain’!

P.S. All health professionals should be mindful of the fact that some antibiotics and cholesterol lowering drugs can have an adverse affect on tendons and muscles. Examples: Fluoroquinolones (Brand name Cipro, Floxin, and Levaquin) which are used to treat bladder, respiratory, and other infections can inflame and even rupture tendons.

Others are Ciprofloxacin, Cholesterol lowering drugs such as Zocor, Lipitor, Baycol, Pravachol, Lescol, and Mevacor can occasionally cause rhabdomyolysis (deterioration of the muscles). These drugs can also adversely affect the liver.

Lasting results are attainable.