What is Tendonitis?

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Tendonitis, or tendinitis, is a condition where tendons become swollen or inflamed. Tendons are fibrous tissues that connect muscle to bone or to another body part, such as an eyeball.^[1]

Tendons can become swollen, inflamed or damaged through injury or stresses created by overuse. Ageing can also lead to tendonitis as body tissues lose elasticity.^[2]

Tendon damage is not always present with inflammation. Where inflammation is absent, the condition is often referred to as tendinosis, rather than tendonitis. Tendonitis, tendinosis and tendon ruptures are all forms of tendinopathy, a general term to describe tendon degeneration.^[3][4]

Tendonitis is a common condition. People who take part in sport and exercise are more likely to develop tendonitis, as are people who perform repetitive actions, such as playing racket sports, running or typing.

Tendonitis will typically heal with appropriate treatment. The recovery time will depend on how severely the tendon is damaged and may take up to several months. People experiencing possible symptoms of tendonitis Can search for Nearest doctor to carry out a symptom assessment.

Symptoms of tendonitis

The main symptoms of tendonitis is pain:^[2][5][6]

• Pain is feltalong a tendon, particularly near a joint
• Increased pain when moving the joint
• In the early stages, pain is only felt when the tendon is in use
• In the early stages, pain may go away after a warm-up exercise
• In later stages, pain may also be felt as a dull ache after the tendon is used
• Pain may be experienced as a burning sensation

Other symptoms of tendonitis can include:^[6]

• Tenderness around the joint
• Swelling of the joint area
• Thickening of the tendon
• Nodules on the tendon
• Crepitus, a grating sound or feeling, usually experienced in Achilles tendonitis

Any tendon can be affected by tendonitis, but it commonly occurs in the:^[2][7]

• Heel (Achilles tendonitis)
• Elbow (such as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow)
• Knee (patellar tendonitis)
• Wrist and thumb (De Quervain’s tendinosis)
• Shoulder (rotator cuff tendonitis)
• Biceps
• Foot (posterior tibial tendonitis, peroneal tendonitis or extensor tendonitis)
• Hands (extensor tendonitis)
• Hip
• Hamstring

People experiencing possible symptoms of tendonitis should see a doctor for evaluation.

Causes of tendonitis

The most common cause of tendonitis is overuse of or injury to the tendon. This can arise from a number of activities, which include:^[6]

• Playing sport or exercising, particularly with poor technique or equipment
• Using a hard or high-friction surface to play sport
• Repetitive motions, such as lifting, gripping or twisting
• Lack of body flexibility
• Lack of cardiovascular conditioning
• Using some muscles more than others
• Accidents, such as falls
• Previous history of tendonitis

Repeated use of tendons is thought to be the primary cause of tendonitis. Tendonitis linked to overuse of a joint is a form of repetitive strain injury.^[8]

Achilles tendonitis

The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle to the heel. Achilles tendonitis is most often caused by overuse or sometimes by injury.

Achilles tendonitis can occur:^[9][10]

• If there is a sudden increase in activity levels
• When running on hard surfaces
• Due to not wearing properly fitting footwear
• When calf muscles are tight
• During running or exercising to excess
• During repeated jumping

Achilles tendonitis can also be caused by bone spurs in the heel rubbing and irritating the tendon. This is more common in people with arthritis.^[9]

Read more about Achilles Tendonitis »

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)

Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is caused by overuse of the tendons on the outside of the elbow. Although this condition is often called tennis elbow, it is related to excessive wrist flexing and is more common in people who do not play tennis.^[11]

Activities that can lead to overuse include:^[12][13]

• Playing racket sports, such as tennis
• Repetitive gripping, such as cutting meat, painting or using a screwdriver

In some cases, the cause of tennis elbow cannot be determined.

Patellar tendonitis

Patellar tendonitis, also known as jumper’s knee, affects tendons connecting the kneecap to the shinbone. It usually affects athletes in sports which require a lot of jumping, such as basketball or volleyball. It is caused by repeated stresses to the knee, particularly when jumping on hard surfaces.^[14]

Peroneal tendonitis

Peroneal tendonitis affects tendons in the outer side of the foot. It is common in people who run or play sports, such as soccer, football, basketball or dancing.^[15][16]

Peroneal tendonitis can sometimes be misdiagnosed as an ankle sprain.

De Quervain’s tendonitis

De Quervain’s tendonitis affects tendons in the wrist and thumb. It causes pain and swelling in the thumb side of the wrist.

Tendonitis in the wrist and thumb occurs due to overuse of the wrist, through repetitive activities such as typing or scanning. Tendons for the thumb pass through a tunnel in the wrist. If these tendons, or their protective sheath, swell or become inflamed, it can put pressure on nerves and cause pain.^[17][18]

Pregnant people can also develop De Quervain’s tendonitis. It usually goes away four to six weeks after birth.^[17]

De Quervain’s tendonitis can also be called De Quervain’s tenosynovitis and De Quervain’s tendinosis, as the condition is not technically tendonitis. Tendinosis is degeneration of the tendon without inflammation being present, and tenosynovitis is inflammation of the sheath covering a tendon.^[19][4]

De Quervain’s tendonitis may be confused with carpal tunnel syndrome. Read more about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome »

Shoulder tendonitis (rotator cuff tendonitis)

A rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles around the shoulder joint. These tendons can develop tendonitis through overuse and age, as well as by rubbing against bone to become inflamed.^[20][21]

Activities that can cause tendonitis in the shoulder include:^[22]

• Repeatedly lifting the arm overhead, such as while painting, swimming, playing basketball or racquet sports, doing gymnastics
• Overuse of the shoulder in sports, such as while rowing and kayaking
• Keeping the arm in the same position for long periods of time, such as while typing
• Poor posture
• Sleeping on the same arm

Biceps tendonitis

Biceps tendonitis occurs around the front of the shoulder, in the long head of the biceps tendon. It often presents alongside tendonitis in the rotator cuff tendon. Biceps tendonitis can develop through overuse and age.^[23][24]

Activities that can cause tendonitis in the biceps include:

• Repeatedly lifting the arm overhead, such as while swimming or playing basketball or tennis
• Sudden overuse, more commonly seen in older people

Foot tendonitis (posterior tibial tendonitis)

Tendonitis in the foot, also known as posterior tibial tendonitis, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction or adult-acquired flatfoot, occurs when the tendon connecting one of the calf muscles to the inside of the foot becomes damaged or inflamed.^[25][26][27]

Posterior tibial tendonitis can occur because of an injury or overuse. People at particular risk include:

• People who play high-impact sports, such as basketball or tennis
• Women over the age of 40
• People who are obese
• Diabetics

Over time, damage to this tendon causes the arch of the foot to fall, also known as flat foot. This can create pain in other areas of the foot as the shape of the foot changes.^[25]

Extensor tendonitis

Extensor tendons are located in the backs of the hands and the top of the foot. There is little skin or protective tissue around them, and they are prone to damage, as the hands and feet are in almost constant use.^[28][29][30]

Extensor tendonitis is most commonly caused by overuse. Activities that can cause the condition include:

• Wearing shoes that are too tight
• Prolonged typing with force or without ergonomic support
• Being on one’s feet a lot
• Running uphill excessively, such as on a treadmill
• Playing a musical instrument
• Gardening

Hip tendonitis

Hip tendonitis affects the tendons in the hip area, and may be accompanied by strain to the hip muscles. It can be caused by:^[31]

• Performing repetitive actions
• An injury or impact to the joint
• Exercising to excess
• Not warming up properly before exercise

Hamstring tendonitis

The hamstring muscles are in the back of the thigh and allow the knee to bend. The hamstring tendons attach at the back of the knee. Hamstring muscles can be strained, resulting in pain at the back of the thigh, or the tendons can become inflamed, resulting in pain in:^[32][33]

• The back of the knee
• The back of the thigh
• Hips
• Buttocks
• Lower back

Hamstring tendonitis is generally caused by excessive overuse.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation of joints and associated tissues. If tendons are affected, it can lead to inflammation and tendonitis.^[34][35]

Read more about Rheumatoid Arthritis »

Diabetes and metabolic diseases

Diabetes and metabolic diseases, such as hyperparathyroidism and hemochromatosis, can lead to calcium deposits in the body, particularly around the shoulder area. This can irritate the tendons in the rotator cuff and cause tendonitis. This condition is known as acute calcific tendinitis.^[36][37][38]

Gonorrhea

If the bacteria that cause gonorrhea spread to the bloodstream and around the body, this creates a condition known as disseminated gonococcal infection. This condition usually causes tendonitis or joint pain as an early symptom.^[39][40]

Read more about Gonorrhea »

Risk factors for tendonitis

There are a number of factors that can increase a person’s risk of developing tendonitis.

People who repeatedly use and put stress on their joints are more likely to develop tendonitis. This can include:^[41][42]

• Athletes, including anyone playing sport or exercising
• Musicians
• Carpenters
• Welders
• Cooks
• Butchers

Adults in middle age are more at risk of developing tendonitis. Tendons become weakened during a lifetime, due to everyday activities. Additional stresses can cause tendonitis in weakened and age-damaged tendons.^[23][43]

A person with a history of tendonitis is at risk of developing tendonitis again.

Smoking

Smokers are considered to be 1.5 times more likely to develop tendonitis than non-smokers. Smoking can also negatively affect the healing process as the body repairs itself.^[44][45]

Antibiotics

Taking ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, antibiotics in the fluoroquinolones class, may increase the risk of developing tendonitis or experiencing a tendon rupture.^[46][47]

Diagnosing tendonitis

Diagnosing tendonitis is usually done by taking the person’s medical history and performing a physical examination.

During a physical examination, a healthcare professional will look for:

• Swelling
• Pain
• Tenderness
• Changes when the joint is moved

If a diagnosis is not clear, or symptoms fail to improve, other tests may be ordered. The type of test will depend on the location of the injury, such as:^{[2][20][48][49]}

• X-ray, which does not show tendons, but can reveal abnormalities with bones that indicate tendon problems
• Ultrasound, which uses sound waves to create an image of a joint
• MRI, which uses magnets and radio waves to look inside the body, does show tendons and can be useful if surgery is needed

Treatment for tendonitis

There are various treatments for tendonitis which can reduce immediate pain and inflammation and also repair the tendon in the long run.

Nonpharmaceutical treatments

There are some simple treatments for non-severe tendonitis that do not involve pharmaceutical intervention.

Rest

Rest is necessary to allow the tendon to heal. It is important to reduce activities and, if possible, stop those which make the pain worse. When experiencing tendonitis, it may be necessary to rest the joint for three to six months, or potentially more, depending on the severity of the injury. There are no set recommendations for the duration of rest, but people should restrict painful activities for as long as necessary.^[50]

Wearing a brace, splint or strap may help keep the joint from being used. A sling may be helpful for shoulder tendonitis.

Ice

Cooling a swollen and painful joint with ice is a common home remedy for tendonitis. Ice can numb the skin and provide short-term pain relief in the first 24-48 hours if the condition first occurs as a sudden injury.^[50] However, there is a lack of evidence to show whether using ice is helpful for long-term tissue repair.^[51]

Physical therapy

Physical therapy to reduce stress on tendons by strengthening surrounding muscles may be helpful for tendonitis conditions such as tennis elbow and Achilles tendonitis. A physiotherapist can identify the best exercises for a particular injury, such as gentle stretches and strengthening exercises.^[10][12][52]

Strengthening and stretching exercises should not be attempted until after the pain has gone. Exercises that focus on lengthening muscles, known as eccentric training, can be beneficial for tendonitis.^[50]

Physical therapy can help the healing process and make future episodes of tendonitis less likely. Physiotherapy will also typically be recommended to strengthen joints after any surgery.

Ultrasound and TENS therapy

Some practitioners offer ultrasound or Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) treatment for tendonitis. However, there is no evidence that these treatments offer any benefit over placebo or standard care plans of rest and physical therapy.^[50]

Pharmaceutical treatments

Medication

Pain-killing medication may be useful in the short term to manage the pain of tendonitis. Medication should be used to ease any pain felt while resting the joint as it heals. Any attempt to mask pain while continuing with activity will risk damaging the tendon further.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, can help where the tendon is swollen. However, not all cases of tendonitis are inflammatory and may instead be caused by degeneration of the tendon. In such cases, painkillers such as paracetamol may be as effective.^[53] A doctor will be able to advise on the most appropriate option. Painkillers should only be taken for a limited period of time.

Steroids

Corticosteroid injections into the site of tendonitis can provide short-term pain relief. Injections are administered by a health professional and can offer relief from pain for up to 48 hours.^[54][55]

Injections of corticosteroids should never be given to the heel as they are thought to increase the chance of Achilles tendon rupture. Ruptures of the Achilles tendon have been reported after a single use of corticosteroid injections. Repeated injections into the same site or into a tendon should be avoided as this can also increase the risk of tendon rupture.^[56][50]

Surgery

Tendonitis that does not respond to rest, painkillers or physical therapy may be referred for surgery. The type of surgery will depend on the location and severity of the condition. Types of surgery that may be suggested include:^{[10][24][57][58]}

• Debridement and repair, which is the removal of damaged parts of the tendon. This is performed if less than 50 percent of the tendon is damaged.
• Debridement with tendon transfer, which is performed when more than 50 percent of the tendon is damaged. The remaining tendon is supported with tendon tissue moved from elsewhere in the body. In Achilles surgery, for example, tendon tissue is taken from the big toe.
• Releasing the sheath or pulley, which is performed for De Quervain’s tendonitis and other tendonitis conditions of the hand and wrist, where a mechanical problem is preventing the tendon from functioning normally.

Surgery for tendonitis is rare, as cases usually improve with rest and non-surgical treatment.^[2]

Complications of tendonitis

If tendonitis is left untreated, the affected tendons may rupture. A rupture occurs when the tendon partially or completely tears away from the bone. Without treatment, a tendon rupture could result in permanent disability.^[2][59]

Preventing tendonitis

The risk of tendonitis, or how severe tendonitis is when it occurs, can be lowered by:^[2][20][60]

• Warming up and stretching before exercising
• Avoiding using joints in a repetitive motion as much as possible
• Strengthening muscles with exercise to provide support to joints and tendons
• Easing into new, strenuous activity
• Providing padding or cushioning for joints at risk of tendonitis
• Maintaining good posture to keep joints in the correct position
• Not continuing with activities that cause pain

Tendonitis FAQs

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1. US National Library of Medicine. “Tendons.” Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

2. MedlinePlus. “Tendinitis.” July 2016. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

3. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. “Tendon Disorders.” December 2010. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

4. US National Library of Medicine. “Tendinopathy: Why the Difference Between Tendinitis and Tendinosis Matters.” March 2012. Accessed May 28, 2018. ↩ ↩

5. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. “Tendinitis: What are the symptoms?” February 2017. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

6. BMJ Best Practice. “Tendinopathy: History and exam.” Accessed May 24, 2018. ↩ ↩ ↩

7. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. “Tendinitis: What are the types?” February 2017. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

8. BMJ Best Practice. “Tendinopathy: Aetiology.” Accessed May 24, 2018. ↩

9. MedlinePlus. “Achilles tendinitis.” September 2016. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩ ↩

10. OrthoInfo. “Achilles Tendinitis.” June 2010. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩ ↩ ↩

11. Medscape. “Lateral Epicondylitis.” August 2017. Accessed May 24, 2018. ↩

12. American Society for Surgery of the Hand. “Tennis Elbow.” 2017. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩ ↩

13. MedlinePlus. “Tennis elbow.” September 2016. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

14. Medscape. “Jumper’s Knee.” October 2015. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

15. Medscape. “Peroneal Tendon Syndrome.” March 2018. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

16. American Family Physician. “Tendinopathies of the Foot and Ankle.” November 2009. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

17. American Society for Surgery of the Hand. “De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis.” 2017. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩ ↩

18. OrthoInfo. “De Quervain’s Tendinosis.” December 2013. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

19. MedlinePlus. “Tenosynovitis.” September 2016. Accessed May 28, 2018. ↩

20. MedlinePlus. “Rotator cuff problems.” September 2017. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩ ↩ ↩

21. OrthoInfo. “Shoulder Impingement/Rotator Cuff Tendinitis.” February 2011. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

22. Medscape. “Bicipital Tendonitis.” December 2017. Accessed May 24, 2018. ↩

23. OrthoInfo. “Bicep Tendinitis.” February 2016. Accessed May 2. 2018. ↩ ↩

24. American Family Physician. “Diagnosis and Treatment of Biceps Tendinitis and Tendinosis.” September 2009. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩ ↩

25. OrthoInfo. “Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction.” September 2017. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩ ↩

26. US National Library of Medicine. “Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction: An Overlooked Cause of Foot Deformity.” March 2015. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

27. American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society. “Posterior Tibial Tendon Insufficiency.” July 2015. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

28. Medical News Today. “What’s to know about extensor tendonitis?” June 2017. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

29. American Health Network. “Extensor Tendonitis.” Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

30. Healthline. “Extensor Tendonitis.” November 2016. ↩

31. OrthoInfo. “Hip Strains.” December 2014. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

32. UC San Diego Health. “Hamstring Tendonitis or Strain.” Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

33. OrthoInfo. “Hamstring Muscle Injuries.” July 2015. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

34. Arthritis Foundation. “Tendon and Ligament Pain.” Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

35. MedlinePlus. “Rheumatoid arthritis.” July 2017. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

36. US National Library of Medicine. “Calcific tendinitis of the shoulder.” August 2014. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

37. British Journal of Sports Medicine. “Is there an association between tendinopathy and diabetes mellitus? A systematic review with meta-analysis.” July 2016. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

38. Arthritis Research UK. “What causes calcium crystal diseases?” Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

39. Healthline. “Systemic Gonococcal Infection”. January 2016. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

40. Medscape. “Gonorrhea.” December 2017. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

41. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. “Tendinitis: Who gets it?” February 2017. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

42. Harvard Health Publishing. “Tendonitis.” May 2013. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

43. Medscape. “Tendonitis.” December 2016. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

44. OrthoInfo. “Smoking and Musculoskeletal Health.” May 2010. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

45. US National Library of Medicine. “Cigarette smoking and musculoskeletal disorders.” June 2013. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

46. MedlinePlus. “Levofloxacin.” December 2017. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

47. MedlinePlus. “Ciprofloxacin.” December 2017. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

48. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. “Tendinitis: Is there a test?” February 2017. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

49. Medscape. “Tendonitis Workup.” December 2016. Accessed May 24, 2018. ↩

50. Medscape. “Tendonitis Treatment & Management.” December 2016. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

51. US National Library of Medicine. “Is ice right? Does cryotherapy improve outcome for acute soft tissue injury?” February 2008. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

52. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. “Tendinitis: How is it treated?” February 2017. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

53. US National Library of Medicine. “Patellar tendinopathy in athletes: current diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations.” 2005. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

54. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. “Tennis elbow.” November 2017. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

55. Arthritis Research UK. “What treatments are there for elbow pain?” Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

56. OrthoInfo. “Patellar Tendon Tear.” February 2016. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

57. Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Posterior Tibialis Tendon Surgery.” Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

58. US National Library of Medicine. “Tendon disorders of the hand and wrist.” May 2010. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

59. Patient Info. “Tendon Rupture.” May 2015. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

60. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. “Tendinitis: Can I prevent it?” February 2017. Accessed May 2, 2018. ↩

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**Question: What is Tendonitis?**



**Answer:**



Tendonitis is a common condition that involves inflammation or irritation of the tendons, the fibrous​ tissues that connect muscles to bones. Tendons enable movement and support the joints.



**Symptoms of Tendonitis:**



* Pain and tenderness near the affected joint

* Stiffness or difficulty moving the joint

* Swelling and warmth around the joint

* Decreased range of ‍motion

* Crepitus (crackling or popping sound) during movement



**Causes of Tendonitis:**



Tendonitis can ⁣be caused by​ several factors, including:



* Repetitive motions or overuse

* Sudden injury or trauma

* Poor posture or alignment

* Underlying medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis)

* Advancing age



**Common Types of Tendonitis:**



* **Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis):** Inflammation of the extensor⁣ tendons ⁢at the outside of ​the elbow

* ⁤**Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis):** Inflammation of the ​flexor tendons at the inside of the elbow

* **Achilles tendonitis:** Inflammation of the Achilles tendon at the back of the​ ankle

* **Patellar tendonitis (jumper’s knee):** Inflammation of the patellar tendon at the⁣ front of the knee

* **Rotator cuff tendonitis:** Inflammation of ​the tendons around the shoulder​ joint



**Diagnosis of Tendonitis:**



Tendonitis is typically diagnosed based on a physical examination‌ and patient’s symptoms. In some cases, imaging tests (e.g., X-ray, ultrasound) may be recommended to rule out ⁣other⁢ conditions.



**Treatment for Tendonitis:**



Treatment for tendonitis focuses on ‌reducing ⁢inflammation and pain. Common methods include:



* Rest and immobilization

* Ice therapy

* Anti-inflammatory medications

* Physical therapy and stretching

*‍ Injections‍ (e.g.,‍ corticosteroids)

* Surgery (in severe cases)



**Prevention of Tendonitis:**



Prevention involves:



* Proper warm-up and stretching before exercise

* Gradual⁣ increase in training intensity and duration

* Maintaining good ‌posture and alignment

* Avoiding excessive ⁤or repetitive⁣ movements

* Using ergonomic tools at work

* Strengthening muscles that support tendons