Tendon & Muscle Injuries — Physiotherapy in London & Essex
Assessment and progressive-loading rehabilitation for tendinopathy — Achilles, patellar, rotator cuff, and gluteal — alongside muscle strains and tears. We diagnose the overload that caused the injury and rebuild capacity with graded exercise, the treatment with the strongest evidence base.
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What you're seeing
The concern
Why it happens
What drives it
- A rapid spike in training, running mileage, or gym load that outpaces the tendon's or muscle's ability to adapt
- Sudden over-stretch or forceful contraction — sprinting, jumping, kicking, or an awkward lift — causing an acute muscle strain or tear
- Repetitive or sustained load through one tendon (Achilles, patellar, rotator cuff, gluteal) without adequate recovery
- Strength and capacity deficits in the surrounding muscle group, so the tendon absorbs load it is not conditioned for
- Returning to full activity too soon after a previous injury, before the tissue has rebuilt its capacity
- Reduced tissue tolerance with age, certain medications, or metabolic factors that affect tendon health
Treatment approach
How Amanda treats it
Physiotherapy
Price on enquiryHands-on assessment identifies the injured tissue and the overload behind it, then combines manual therapy, education, and an evidence-based loading plan — the core treatment for both tendinopathy and muscle injury.
See treatment detail →Exercise Rehabilitation
Price on enquiryProgressive loading is the primary, best-evidenced treatment for tendinopathy and the way muscle strains regain strength; a structured, graded programme rebuilds tissue capacity rather than simply settling symptoms.
See treatment detail →Acupuncture
Price on enquiryDelivered by AACP-trained physiotherapists, acupuncture can be used alongside loading rehabilitation to help manage persistent pain so you can engage fully with the active part of your programme.
See treatment detail →FAQ
Common
questions
What is the difference between tendinitis and tendinopathy?
"Tendinitis" implies inflammation, but research shows most long-standing tendon problems are not primarily inflammatory — they are changes in tendon structure caused by overload. "Tendinopathy" is the accurate term, and it matters because the treatment differs: rest alone rarely fixes it, whereas progressive loading rebuilds the tendon's capacity over time.
How long does a tendon or muscle injury take to recover?
It depends on the tissue and severity. Mild muscle strains often settle within two to three weeks; more significant tears can take six to twelve weeks of staged rehab. Tendinopathy is slower — typically three months or more of consistent loading — because tendon tissue adapts gradually. We set realistic milestones at your first appointment.
Should I rest a tendinopathy completely?
Usually not. Complete rest may ease pain briefly, but it lets the tendon lose capacity, so symptoms return when you resume activity. The evidence supports relative rest combined with progressive loading — reducing aggravating load temporarily while gradually rebuilding the tendon's tolerance through structured exercise. We guide the right amount of load for your stage of recovery.
Do I need a scan for a muscle or tendon injury?
Most do not. A thorough physiotherapy assessment can usually identify the tissue involved and grade the injury. We recommend imaging when a significant tear or rupture is suspected, when symptoms do not follow the expected recovery curve, or when a surgical opinion may be needed — and we refer through the appropriate route when it is.
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Ready to begin?
Book today.
The Physio Rooms • 280 Bishopsgate, Liverpool Street, London EC2M 4RB
BookAppointments typically available within 1–2 weeks