Tendon & Soft Tissue Injuries
Tendon and soft tissue injuries cover a wide spectrum, from the sudden muscle strain that happens in a split second to the stubborn tendon pain that has been building quietly for months. Understanding the difference matters, because the two require very different approaches to treatment and rehabilitation. At Prime Sports Physiotherapy in Edinburgh, we have the expertise to assess both accurately and manage each effectively, helping you recover fully and reduce the risk of the same problem coming back.
Tendon Injuries & Tendinopathy
Tendon injuries and bursitis have a particular way of being frustrating. They ease off when you rest, then flare up again the moment you return to activity. They grumble along at a level that is just about manageable, until one day they are not. They can linger for months or even years, quietly limiting what you can do and gradually wearing down your confidence in your body. Whether you are a runner whose Achilles has been niggling for a season, a tennis player with an elbow that will not settle, or someone whose heel pain makes the first steps of every morning something to dread, you do not have to just keep managing it.
Tendinopathy occurs when a tendon becomes overloaded, or age related changes and fails to recover adequately, leading to changes in the tendon tissue that cause persistent pain and reduced function. It is not simply inflammation, which is why rest alone rarely solves it. Bursitis is inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion joints and tendons, causing localised pain and swelling. ITB syndrome is a common overuse injury in runners and cyclists, causing pain on the outer side of the knee as the iliotibial band becomes tight and irritated with repetitive movement.
The key to recovery is a carefully graded loading programme that progressively rebuilds the tendon’s strength and tolerance to demand, combined with expert hands-on care and where appropriate, acupuncture or shockwave therapy.
For persistent tendon and bursitis conditions that have not responded to other treatments, shockwave therapy offers a clinically proven and NICE-recommended solution, stimulating the body’s natural healing response in stubborn tissues. At Prime, shockwave therapy is always delivered alongside physiotherapy-led rehabilitation because the combination is what delivers lasting results.
Common conditions we treat include Achilles tendinopathy, patellar tendinopathy and jumper’s knee, hamstring tendinopathy, gluteal tendinopathy and lateral hip pain, ilio-tibial band syndrome, bursitis of the hip, knee, and shoulder, rotator cuff tendinopathy, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, and plantar fasciitis.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries including muscle strains, ligament sprains, are among the most common presentations we see at Prime. Unlike tendinopathy, these injuries are often acute, occurring suddenly during sport, exercise, or everyday activity, though they can also develop gradually through overuse and repetitive strain.
Muscle strains occur when muscle fibres are overstretched or torn, commonly affecting the hamstrings, calves, quadriceps, and groin. Ligament sprains involve partial or complete tearing of the ligaments that stabilise joints, most frequently the ankle, knee, and shoulder. Each of these conditions requires accurate diagnosis and a structured rehabilitation programme to restore strength, stability, and movement control. Without the right treatment, acute soft tissue injuries can become persistent problems that affect performance and daily life long after the initial injury has healed.
Treatment typically combines hands-on therapy to manage pain and restore movement, targeted rehabilitation exercises to rebuild strength and stability, load management to protect healing tissue, sports massage, and taping or bracing where appropriate.
Common soft tissue conditions we treat include hamstring, calf, quadriceps, and groin strains, ankle, knee, and shoulder ligament sprains,, and muscle contusions and soft tissue bruising.
Who is it for?
Our tendon and soft tissue service is suitable for athletes, active individuals, and anyone experiencing tendon or soft tissue pain, whether acute or long-standing. You do not need a referral to book. If a tendon or soft tissue injury is holding you back, we are here to help you recover, perform, and thrive.
