How can I advise patients on lifestyle modifications to prevent recurrence of tendonitis?

To advise patients on lifestyle modifications for preventing the recurrence of tendinitis, you can recommend several strategies related to exercise habits, equipment, and professional guidance. Patients should identify and remove any precipitating factors that contribute to their tendinitis [Ackermann, 2018b].

Regarding exercise habits, advise patients to modify or restrict any pain-producing exercises ². It is important to warm up before exercising with an aerobic activity to gently increase heart rate and prepare muscles ³. After exercise, patients should cool down by gradually decreasing intensity and performing gentle stretches while muscles are still warm ³. Encourage them to develop a balanced fitness programme that incorporates cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and flexibility ³. New activities and exercises should be added cautiously ³. Patients should avoid exercising or playing sport when tired or in pain ³, and schedule regular days off from exercise ³.

For specific exercises, stretching and strengthening exercises, including eccentric exercises, are a component of tendinopathy treatment and are best guided by an experienced physiotherapist [BMJ Best Practice, 2019]. Muscle stretching exercises can help maintain stability and reduce muscle shortening, such as quadriceps stretching for knee issues ². Mechanical loading exercise programmes, such as eccentric or heavy-load, slow-speed exercises, can help decrease pain and improve function [Martin, 2018].

In terms of equipment, advise patients to use proper equipment and wear appropriate shoes, replacing them as they wear out ³.

Finally, professional support is crucial; referral to physiotherapy is recommended for tendinopathy and can provide tailored guidance on appropriate exercises and rehabilitation ¹,³.