How long does tendon rehab take?

Three to six months for a tendon that has been painful a while, and that is the honest answer rather than the encouraging one. You will feel meaningful change much sooner, usually inside a few weeks, but the tissue itself takes months to catch up.

Is some pain during exercise acceptable?

Yes. Low-level pain that settles within 24 hours and is no worse the next morning is acceptable and does not indicate harm. That rule gives you something concrete to judge each session against.

Tendinopathy and tendonitis rehab in Las Vegas

Why rest keeps
failing your tendon.

If your tendon hurts for the first ten minutes of every session and then warms up, that is a tendon problem behaving exactly as tendon problems behave. Tendons adapt to load and de-adapt without it. Two weeks off lowers the pain and the capacity together, so returning at the old load reproduces the problem immediately.

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A physical therapist watching a woman lift a kettlebell from the floor in the clinic gym

What we treat

Achilles tendinopathy, at the back of the heel or a little higher
Patellar tendinopathy, jumper's knee, pain just below the kneecap
Gluteal tendinopathy, outside of the hip, painful to lie on
Proximal hamstring pain, deep in the sit bone, worse sitting

A man holding a loaded barbell at his hips as his physical therapist looks on

Why rest makes tendons worse

The tendon is not inflamed in the way people assume. It is under-prepared for what is being asked.

How loading works

We find the load your tendon tolerates today, which is rarely zero, and build from there on a schedule. Progress is measured by what the tendon can do and by how it feels the following morning, not by whether it hurt during the session.

Frequently asked questions

How long does tendon rehab take?
Three to six months for a tendon that has been painful a while, and that is the honest answer rather than the encouraging one. You will feel meaningful change much sooner, usually inside a few weeks, but the tissue itself takes months to catch up.
Is some pain during exercise acceptable?
Yes. Low-level pain that settles within 24 hours and is no worse the next morning is acceptable and does not indicate harm. That rule gives you something concrete to judge each session against.

More in performance physical therapy: running injury physical therapy; tennis and golfer's elbow treatment; groin strain and hip labral rehab for athletes; and knee pain physical therapy.

Tendinopathy and tendonitis rehab for patients from Las Vegas, Spring Valley, North Las Vegas, Summerlin South, Summerlin and Summerlin West, at our clinic at 7381 Prairie Falcon Rd, Ste 110, Las Vegas.

Book a free 15-minute call