Gao come in two forms, pre-made ointments that are packed on the local area like a pultice and left overnight or stick on plasters in which herbs have been impregnated into the adhesive. Tiger's U-I Oil ( Hu Biao Ru Yi You) can also be useful for tendon injuries, particularly if used immediately before activities which may cause the tendinitis to flare up. This treatment can prevent a “tweaked “ tendon from developing into a chronic injury if performed immediately after class or training. Tendon Lotion contains herbs that kill pain, heal damaged tissue and draw circulation to the injured area. Pressure should be even and slow penetrating only to the depth of the tendon, not down to the bone. Place a small amount of the liniment on the painful area and work it gently into the tissue by making small circles with the pad your thumb or a finger for several minutes. Gentle massage of the injured area with Dragon's Blood Tendon Lotion ( Xue Jie Shu Jin Lu) is the key to breaking the cycle of pain and re-injury that characterizes tendinitis. Chinese medicine offers effective prevention, treatment and rehabilitation from tendon injuries through correct application of massage in conjunction with herbal liniments, the use of medicinal plasters ( Gao), and exercise. There is no need for tendinitis to become a chronic, debilitating injury. Repetitive tasks such as working at a computer and working with power tools, as well as exercises such as forced stretching, or weight training, may also contribute to the development of tendinitis.
Tendinitis occurs frequently in the: shoulder and elbow - the classic “tennis elbow” or “golfer’s elbow” - however tendinitis can also occur in the tendons around the hip and knee or Achilles tendon. While rest will relieve the pain, returning to training before the injured area is fully healed can easily stress the damaged tissue, perpetuating the cycle of pain, irritation and even inflammation. Irritation creates further swelling, more rubbing and more irritation. The swelling in turn causes the tendon to rub against the tendon sheath or against adjacent structures creating irritation. These small traumas can cause the tendon to swell. Misuse and/or trauma create small micro-tears at these attachments. Tendons are the thick fibrous ends of the muscles, which attach muscles to bones. Most people who suffer from tendinitis cannot recall a specific injury, and there is usually no obvious acute stage accompanied by visible swelling or bruising. While tendinitis can be caused by a direct impact injury, more commonly it is the result of chronic misuse or overuse of the muscles around a joint. One chronic injury that can be particularly frustrating and debilitating is tendinitis. Rigorous physical training can lead to chronic injuries which can affect performance or curtail training altogether.