At a Glance
Tendons heal more slowly than muscles primarily because they have a more limited blood supply, meaning less oxygen and fewer nutrients reach the injured tissue.
Age, overall health, and the rate at which the injury developed also affect healing time. Recovery can range from a few weeks for mild strains to several months for a complete tear.
Physical therapy is often the most effective treatment for mild to moderate tendon injuries, while severe tears may require surgery.
Tendons take longer to heal than most other tissues, mainly because they have a limited blood supply, which slows the delivery of nutrients needed for repair.
Tendons are thick, fibrous bands that anchor muscles to bones and are essential for coordinated movement. Despite their strength, they’re prone to injury, especially in athletes, usually from overwork or a sudden excessive force.
This article covers why tendons heal slowly, the types of tendon injuries, and the available treatment options.
Explore Non-Surgical Options for Joint Pain
Tendons: Anatomy and Function
Tendons act as levers that transmit the force of muscle contraction to the bones and the joints and bring about movement. So, when a muscle contracts or relaxes, the tendon pulls or pushes away the bone and causes movement.
Tendons are present all through the body; wherever there are bones and skeletal muscles, there are tendons. Tendons are made up of bundles of collagen fibers that are arranged in parallel and tightly packed. This arrangement makes tendons extremely strong and resilient, so they can withstand a lot of force without getting damaged.
But tendons can also be quite stiff, so when exposed to excessive shearing force, they can be damaged. Tendon injuries can result in severe pain, joint stiffness and tenderness and may keep you away from activity for a long time.
Types of Tendon Injuries
- Strains: Excessive stretching or partial tearing of the tendon fibers.
- Tendonitis: Inflammation from acute overuse or sudden injury, common in the Achilles, knee (patellar), shoulder (rotator cuff), or elbow (epicondylitis).
- Tendinosis: Degeneration from chronic overuse, most often seen in the hamstring tendons.
- Complete tear: Full rupture of the tendon fibers, causing the muscle to partially or fully detach from the bone.
Treatments for Tendon Injuries
RICE
Rest, ice, compression, and elevation are used immediately after injury. Resting prevents further damage, icing reduces inflammation, and compression and elevation limit swelling. Together, they provide pain relief in the early stages.
Rest and Bracing
For mild injuries, a few weeks of rest may be prescribed; exercising too soon can worsen the injury. More severe injuries may require a brace to keep the area immobilized.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is often the most effective treatment for mild-to-moderate tendon injuries after RICE. A therapist builds a customized program of strengthening and stretching exercises calibrated to your specific injury. Self-prescribed exercise without guidance can make things worse.
Surgery
For major injuries like a complete rupture, the tendon may not heal fully on its own, and surgical repair may be needed to reunite the torn tissue or reattach it to the bone. Recovery after surgery includes many months of physical therapy to regain function.
Why Do Tendons Take a Long Time To Heal?
Many factors contribute to how long it takes tendons to heal, including:
- Lower blood supply: Unlike muscles, tendons do not have a rich blood supply. Injured tissue requires more nutrients and more blood to deliver the nutrients. Owing to low blood supply, when tendons are injured, they tend to heal slowly. Conditions like diabetes cause the blood supply to become even more compromised.
- Tendons weaken with age: With age, tendons become thinner, have a lower blood flow and sustain small damages that make them weaker and more susceptible to injuries.
- Tendon injuries develop gradually: Tendon injuries are likely a result of gradual wear and tear due to overuse or aging. A tendon is more likely to be damaged by a sudden impact if it is already weak due to repetitive microtrauma. So, tendon injury can result from damage that began long before.
How Long Does a Tendon Take To Heal?
The recovery timeline for tendon injuries can be anywhere from three weeks to a year. Usually, a repaired tendon regains its full strength after about 12 weeks. However, regaining complete range of movement can take up to six months. Many factors determine the amount of time required for a tendon to heal, such as: Type of injury, Severity of injury, Which tendon was injured, Activity levels, Age and health, Comorbidities (such as diabetes), Smoking, Commitment to physical therapy.
| Injury Type | Estimated Recovery |
| Mild strain | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Tendonitis | 6 to 12 weeks |
| Partial tear | 3 to 6 months |
| Complete rupture (surgical repair) | 6 months to a year |
Regenerative Therapy for Tendon Injury
For those looking to avoid drugs or surgery to address the pain of tendon injuries, non-surgical regenerative medicine treatments are worth considering. Rather than masking symptoms, they’re designed to target the site of tissue damage and support the body’s natural repair process, helping to reduce pain and inflammation and improve mobility.
With these treatments, some patients are able to avoid surgery entirely, without an incision, scarring, or a prolonged recovery.
Struggling With Tendon Injury? Contact QC Kinetix
QC Kinetix’s non-surgical treatments are designed to help patients manage pain and get back to an active lifestyle without surgery or medication.
If you have a tendon injury, schedule a free consultation. We’ll answer your questions, evaluate your condition, and build a personalized treatment plan. If surgery turns out to be the better path for your injury, we’ll tell you right away so there’s no delay in your care.
We’ve helped many people address musculoskeletal pain through non-surgical options, and we’re eager to help you too.
