Tendon, Ligament & Cartilage Injuries

Tendons connect muscles to bones. When muscles contract our tendons pull on our bones to allow movement. Tendons can become injured due to a trauma such as a fall or by being overused. 

Common tendon injuries include: 
  • tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) 
  • golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis) 
  • achilles tendonitis 
  • patellar tendonitis (Jumper’s knee)
  • De Quervain’s tenosynovitis (thumb)
  • hip flexor tendonitis 
  • wrist tendonitis 
  • bicep tendonitis 
  • peroneal tendonitis 

Ligaments connect bones to other bones. Ligaments work by holding our bodies together by giving it structure. Ligaments can be injured due to suddenly twisting through a joint, landing suddenly and by overuse. Ligament injuries are called sprains. 

Common ligament injuries include:
  • knee ligamentous injuries (anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial cruciate ligament (MCL), lateral cruciate ligament (LCL injuries). 
  • ankle ligamentous injuries due to an ankle sprain include: 
    • inversion sprain – ligaments on the outside of the ankle: anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL), calcaneofibular (CFL) 
    • eversion sprain- ligaments on the outside of the ankle called the deltoid ligaments
    • high ankle sprain or syndesmosis – this type of sprain usually occurs when you land on an object like another person’s foot 
  • shoulder ligamentous injuries: shoulder separation (acromioclavicular (AC) joint, shoulder dislocations,. 
  • wrist sprain
  • hand/ finger/ thumb sprains – skier’s thumb, gamekeepers thumb)
  • motor vehicle accident sprains (whiplash injury) 

Cartilage injuries can occur suddenly due to rapid twisting of a joint or by repetitive overuse. The main purpose of cartilage is to absorb forces in your bones and joints. Cartilage injuries can cause pain, stiffness, clicking or popping, or “grinding” and “locking” sensations of the joint. 

Common cartilage injuries include: 
  • knee –  lateral meniscus, medial meniscus injuries
  • hip – labral tears 
  • wrist – triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injuries
  • ankle and elbow cartilage injuries 
Treatment options: 
  • manual therapy & manipulation 
  • patient education 
  • soft tissue release therapy 
  • exercise rehabilitation & home exercise programs 
  • Intramuscular Stimulation 
  • cervical & lumbar traction 
  • shockwave therapy
  • LASER therapy 
  • ultrasound 
  • therapeutic taping (K taping, sprain taping, joint taping)
  • sport injury prevention
  • electrotherapy 
  • cryotherapy/ heat therapy 
  • instrument assisted soft tissue release 
  • kinesiology