Physiotherapy for Tendon Injuries in Glasgow

Tendon problems, whether at the elbow, shoulder, knee or Achilles, respond to a specific loading approach that the research is now very clear about. The old advice of ‘rest it’ has been overturned by the evidence: tendons need progressive loading to recover, and the physiotherapist’s job is to manage that load carefully so the tendon adapts rather than reacts.

Our physiotherapists treat tendinopathies of the elbow (tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow), shoulder (rotator cuff tendinopathy), knee (patellar tendinopathy or jumper’s knee), Achilles, and the gluteal tendons of the hip. The principles are the same… get the diagnosis right, then load the tendon properly.

Tendon problems have a distinctive pattern. Patients commonly describe:

• Pain that warms up with activity then comes back worse afterwards
• Stiffness and pain first thing in the morning
• Tenderness when pressing on the tendon itself
• Pain that’s worsened gradually over weeks or months
• Weakness or ‘giving way’ in the affected area
• Symptoms that have plateaued or worsened despite rest
• Pain that’s worst with specific loading patterns (gripping, jumping, hill walking)

Tendon assessment looks at the irritability of the painful tendon (how it responds to load), the strength and tolerance of the surrounding muscles and tendons, the joint mechanics above and below, any strength asymmetries between sides, and your activity demands – what you need the tendon to do.

The cornerstone of treatment is a structured tendon-loading programme. This isn’t about pushing through pain, it’s about finding the right level of load for your tendon at this stage, then progressing it methodically as the tendon adapts. We’ll explain the specific principles for your tendon (which differ for tennis elbow vs Achilles vs patellar) and give you a clear timeline.

Alongside loading, we use manual therapy and soft tissue techniques as adjuncts, address any contributing factors elsewhere in the body, and where appropriate use laser therapy to support tissue response. We’ll give you very clear guidance on what level of pain during exercise is acceptable (some is normal and expected), and what level means you’re overloading.