A tendon is a fibrous band of connective tissue that connects muscle to bone. An injury to the tendon is called a strain or tear, and rehabilitation depends largely on the degree of the tear.

The degree of a tendon injury is classified by its designation as a first-, second- or third-degree injury. This model is based on an escalating scale. First-degree strains are minor, whereas third-degree tears are more serious. The associated pain and discomfort of a first-degree strain is quickly rehabilitated. Second-degree strains will cause significant pain, swelling and discoloration. Third-degree injuries are complete tendon tears, which disrupt muscle function resulting in significant joint instability. Third-degree tears are less painful than second-degree strains because the tendon is completely torn, not stretching or pulling.

Tendon injuries generally occur in body parts that move in more than one direction. These include the ankle, wrist, shoulder and hip.

With first-degree strains, rehabilitation is fast when the rules of RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) are applied soon after the injury occurs. In second-degree strains, analgesics and anti-inflammatories are prescribed for pain and swelling, in addition to the RICE rules. Third-degree tears almost always require surgical repair and long-term rehabilitation.

Ways to decrease the chance of a tendon injury include increasing range of motion through stretching, strengthening the musculature that surrounds the joints and using joint stability braces or athletic tape.

Adopted from ehow.com