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Definition
Tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of a tendon — any one of the thick fibrous cords that attach muscles to bones. The condition causes pain and tenderness just outside a joint. While tendinitis can occur in any of your body's tendons, it's most common around your shoulders, elbows, wrists and heels.
Some common names for various tendinitis problems are:
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer's elbow
- Pitcher's shoulder
- Swimmer's shoulder
- Jumper's knee
If tendinitis is severe and leads to the rupture of a tendon, you may need surgical repair. But most cases of tendinitis can be successfully treated with rest and medications to reduce the pain and inflammation.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of tendinitis occur at the point where a tendon attaches to a bone and typically include:
- Pain, often described as a dull ache
- Tenderness
- Mild swelling
When to see a doctor
Most cases of tendinitis can respond to self-care measures. See your doctor if your signs and symptoms persist and interfere with your day-to-day activities for more than a few days.
Causes
Although tendinitis can be caused by a sudden injury, the condition is much more likely to stem from the repetition of a particular movement over time. Most people develop tendinitis because their jobs or hobbies involve repetitive motions, which aggravate the tendons needed to perform the tasks.
Risk factors
Risk factors for developing tendinitis include age, working in particular jobs or participating in certain sports.
Age
As people get older, their tendons become less flexible — which makes them easier to injure.
Occupations
Tendinitis is more common in people whose jobs involve:
- Repetitive motions
- Awkward positions
- Frequent overhead reaching
- Vibration
- Forceful exertion
Sports
You may be more likely to develop tendinitis if you participate in certain sports that involve repetitive motions, such as.
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Golf
- Running
- Swimming
- Tennis
Complications
Without proper treatment, tendinitis can increase your risk of experiencing tendon rupture — a much more serious condition that may require surgical repair.
Preparing for your appointment
You may initially bring your signs and symptoms to the attention of your family physician, but he or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in sports medicine or rheumatology — the treatment of conditions that affect the joints.
What you can do
You may want to write a list that includes:
- Detailed descriptions of your symptoms
- Information about medical problems you've had
- Information about the medical problems of your parents or siblings
- All the medications and dietary supplements you take
- Questions you want to ask the doctor
What to expect from your doctor
During the physical exam, your doctor will check for points of tenderness around the affected area. The precise location of your pain can help determine if it's caused by other problems. Your doctor will also move your affected joint into different positions, to try to replicate your signs and symptoms.
Tests and diagnosis
Tendinitis can usually be diagnosed during the physical exam alone. Your doctor may order X-rays or other imaging tests if he or she needs to rule out other conditions that may be causing your signs and symptoms.
Treatments and drugs
The goals of tendinitis treatment are to relieve your pain and reduce inflammation. Often, home treatment — which includes rest, ice and over-the-counter pain relievers — may be all that you need. Other treatments for tendinitis include:
Medications
Sometimes your doctor may inject a corticosteroid medication around a tendon to relieve tendinitis. Injections of cortisone reduce inflammation and can help ease pain. However, repeated injections may weaken a tendon, increasing your risk of rupturing the tendon.
Therapy
You might benefit from a program of specific exercise designed to stretch and strengthen the affected muscle-tendon unit.
Surgery
Depending on the severity of your tendon injury, surgical repair may be needed.
Lifestyle and home remedies
To treat tendinitis at home, P.R.I.C.E. is the acronym to remember — protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation. This treatment can help speed your recovery and help prevent further problems.
- Protection. Immobilize the affected area to encourage healing and to protect it from further injury. You may need to use elastic wraps, slings, splints, crutches or canes.
- Rest. Avoid activities that increase the pain or swelling. Don't try to work or play through the pain. Rest is essential to tissue healing. But it doesn't mean complete bed rest. You can do other activities and exercises that don't stress the injured tendon. Swimming and water exercise may be well tolerated.
- Ice. To decrease pain, muscle spasm and swelling, apply ice to the injured area for up to 20 minutes, several times a day. Ice packs, ice massage or slush baths with ice and water all can help. For an ice massage, freeze a plastic foam cup full of water so that you can hold the cup while applying the ice directly to the skin.
- Compression. Because swelling can result in loss of motion in an injured joint, compress the area until the swelling has ceased. Wraps or compressive elastic bandages (Ace) are best.
- Elevation. If tendinitis affects your knee, raise the affected leg above the level of your heart to reduce swelling.
Although rest is a key part of treating tendinitis, prolonged inactivity can cause stiffness in your joints. After a few days of completely resting the injured area, gently move it through its full range of motion to maintain joint flexibility.
You can also try nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), or products containing acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) in an attempt to reduce the discomfort associated with tendinitis.
Prevention
To reduce your chance of developing tendinitis, follow these suggestions:
- Ease up. Avoid activities that place excessive stress on your tendons, especially for prolonged periods. If you notice pain during a particular exercise, stop and rest.
- Mix it up. If one exercise or activity causes you a particular, persistent pain, try something else. Cross-training can help you mix up an impact-loading exercise, such as running, with lower impact exercise, such as biking or swimming.
- Improve your technique. If your technique in an activity or exercise is flawed, you could be setting yourself up for problems with your tendons. Consider taking lessons or getting professional instructions when starting a new sport or using exercise equipment.
- Stretch first. Before you exercise, take time to stretch in order to maximize the range of motion of your joints. This can help to minimize repetitive microtrauma on tight tissues. Remember to stretch after exercise too.
- Use proper workplace ergonomics. At your workplace, get a proper ergonomic assessment. Fitting your work space to your body is essential to ensure that no tendons are continually stressed or overloaded.
- Prepare your muscles to play. Strengthening muscles used in your activity or sport can help them better withstand stress and load.
Last Updated: 2009-11-04
