| Tendinitis
Definition
Tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of a tendon — any
one of the thick fibrous cords that attach muscles to bones. The
condition, which causes pain and tenderness just outside a
joint, can occur in any of your body's tendons. Tendinitis is
common around your shoulders, elbows, wrists and heels.
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.
Symptoms
Symptoms of tendinitis that are produced near a joint
aggravated by movement include the following:
- 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. Golfer's elbow causes
pain on the inner part of your elbow.
- 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
tendinitis 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 muscle to your bone.
Tendinitis can also be associated with inflammatory diseases
that occur throughout your body, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Risk factors
You have a greater risk of developing tendinitis if you
perform excessive repetitive motions of your arms or legs.
For instance, professional baseball players, swimmers, tennis
players and golfers are susceptible to tendinitis in their
shoulders, arms and elbows. Basketball players, runners and
dancers are more prone to tendon inflammation in their legs and
feet.
But you don't have to be a professional athlete to develop
tendinitis. The incidence of tendinitis increases with age as
muscles and tendons lose some of their elasticity. Improper
technique in any sport is one of the primary causes of overload
on tissues, including tendons, which can contribute to
tendinitis.
Some common names for various tendinitis problems are tennis
elbow, golfer's elbow, pitcher's shoulder, swimmer's shoulder
and jumper's knee.
When to seek medical advice
Most cases of tendinitis don't require a doctor's care. But
if you experience pain that interferes with your normal
day-to-day activities or have soreness that doesn't improve
despite self-care measures, see your doctor. He or she may be
able to help you find ways to reduce your discomfort. Your
doctor may also want to conduct tests to rule out other
conditions that may be causing the problem.
See your doctor if you have a fever and the area affected by
tendinitis appears red or swollen and warm (inflamed). These
signs and symptoms may indicate you have an infection.
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