Tendinitis




Introduction

Tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of a tendon — any one of the thick fibrous cords that attach muscles to bone. The condition, which causes pain and tenderness just outside a joint, is most common around your shoulders, elbows and knees. But tendinitis can also occur in your hips, heels and wrists.

Some common names for tendinitis are tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, pitcher's shoulder, swimmer's shoulder and jumper's knee.

If tendinitis is severe and leads to the rupture of a tendon, you may need surgical repair. But many times, rest and medications to reduce the pain and inflammation of tendinitis may be the only treatments you need. You can also take preventive measures to reduce your chance of developing tendinitis or to keep tendinitis from affecting your normal range of motion in joints such as your shoulder.

Signs and Symptoms

Tendinitis produces the following signs and symptoms near a joint that is aggravated by movement:
  • Pain
  • Tenderness
  • Mild swelling, in some cases


Tendinitis in various locations in your body produces these specific types of pain:
  • Tennis elbow. This type causes pain on the outer side of your forearm near your elbow when you rotate your forearm or grip an object.
  • Achilles tendinitis. This form causes pain just above your heel.
  • Adductor tendinitis. This type leads to pain in your groin.
  • Patellar tendinitis. In this type, you experience pain just below your kneecap.
  • Rotator cuff tendinitis. This form leads to shoulder pain.
If the sheath of tissue that surrounds the tendon becomes scarred and narrowed in small joints, such as the finger, it may cause the tendon to lock in one position, such as occurs in the condition called trigger finger. The pain of tendinitis is usually worse with activities that use the muscle that is attached to the involved tendon.



Causes

Tendons are usually surrounded by a sheath of tissue similar to the lining of the joints (synovium). They're subject to the wear and tear of aging, direct injury and inflammatory diseases. The most common cause of tendinitis is injury or overuse during work or play. The pain is usually the result of a small tear in or inflammation of the tendon that links your muscles to your bone. Tendinitis can also be associated with inflammatory diseases that occur throughout your body, such as rheumatoid arthritis.



Treatment

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 — is all that you need.

Other treatments for tendinitis include:
  • Corticosteroid injections. 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, there are potential side effects. For example, repeated injections may weaken a tendon, increasing your risk of rupturing the tendon. Also, corticosteroid medications should never be directly injected into the tendon itself because this can contribute to tendon rupture.
  • Strengthening exercises and physical therapy. People with tendinitis and tendonosis may also benefit from a program of specific exercise designed to strengthen the force-absorbing capability of the muscle-tendon unit.
  • Surgery. Depending on the degree and type of tendon tear, you may benefit from a surgical procedure that can improve tendon health. Damaged tendons can be removed to promote the formation of more healthy tissue. In select individuals, surgeons can repair full-thickness tendon tears to reduce pain and restore function.


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. For example, long or intense periods of uphill running can contribute to Achilles tendinitis. 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.
  • 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.
To avoid a recurrence of tendinitis, warm up before exercising and cool down afterward. Strengthening exercises also may help prevent further episodes of tendinitis.

Informations obtained from National Institute of Health.
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