Tendonitis

Tendons are thick cords found throughout the body that attach bones to muscles. Tendonitis occurs when a tendon becomes irritated and inflamed.

Repetitive motions, like painting or pitching, are the main cause of tendonitis. Sudden injuries or degenerative conditions like arthritis can cause tendonitis as well.

Tendonitis can occur in any area of the body where there are tendons, but the most common areas are the:

No matter what caused your tendonitis, our orthopedic experts – armed with their extra specialization in sports medicine – will help get you back in the game. You’ll return to play safely – and as soon as possible.

Tendonitis symptoms

Tendonitis symptoms occur at the site of the inflamed tendon and include:

• Pain or achiness
• Tenderness
• Swelling and warmth
• Redness

Tendonitis symptoms may be:

• Acute when they happen suddenly or because of an injury
• Chronic when they develop over time or recur from a previous injury

Chronic tendonitis is more common than acute tendonitis.

Tendonitis causes

Causes of tendonitis include:

• Repetitive motions: Athletes, especially those who play sports like golf, tennis, and baseball, are at high risk for sports injuries like tendonitis. People whose jobs require repetitive motions, like landscapers or painters, are also at risk.
• Improper technique or overuse: Using the wrong technique when playing sports or doing other movements can lead to tendonitis. In addition, playing sports infrequently or doing other physical activities when your body isn’t used to them can stress the tendons and cause tendonitis.
• Certain medical conditions: Arthritis or other disorders may put stress on your tendons, leading to tendonitis.

Being older than 40 increases the risk of tendonitis. Tendons become less flexible as you grow older, so they can’t tolerate as much stress.

Types of tendonitis

Each type of tendonitis has a medical name. Some of the names for types of tendonitis that affect the arms and hands are:

• Shoulder impingement: Affects tendons of the shoulder. This form of tendonitis is also called swimmer’s shoulder.
• Bicep tendonitis: Affects tendons of the upper arms.
• Elbow tendonitis: When it affects the outside of the lower arms and elbows, it’s called lateral epicondylitis or tennis elbow. When it affects the inside of the lower arms and elbows, it’s called medial epicondylitis, golfer’s elbow or pitcher’s elbow.
• Extensor tendonitis: Affects tendons that allow fingers to extend.
• De Quervain’s tenosynovitis: Affects the thumbs and wrists.

Some types of tendonitis that affect the lower legs are:

• Peroneal tendonitis: Affects peroneal tendons on the outsides of lower legs.
• Patellar tendonitis: Affects patellar tendons of the knees and causes knee pain.
• Posterior tibial tendonitis: Affects posterior tibial tendons on the insides of lower legs.
• Achilles tendonitis: Affects the Achilles tendons found in the backs of the lower legs and ankles. This form of tendonitis causes ankle pain.

Expert tendonitis diagnosis

To see if you have tendonitis, you’ll need to see a doctor. During your appointment, your doctor will perform a diagnostic exam that may include:

• Discussion of your possible tendonitis symptoms and your medical history
• Physical exam to look for common signs of tendonitis, like a thickened tendon or limited joint movement
• X-rays, if necessary, to rule out other causes of the pain

Once an orthopedic diagnosis is confirmed, your doctor will explain your tendonitis treatment options and help you choose a plan that’s right for you.

Comprehensive tendonitis treatment

We’ll first recommend nonsurgical methods to provide tendonitis relief and restore function. Many people find long-lasting relief with these techniques to treat tendonitis:

• Rest: Your doctor may recommend avoiding using the tendon that hurts or immobilizing the tendon with a splint, sling, or crutches.
• Medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can relieve tendonitis inflammation and help you feel better.
• Physical therapy: Our skilled athletic trainers and orthopedic physical therapists work with you one-on-one to strengthen tendons and reduce inflammation. We offer customized tendonitis treatment plans designed for your physical needs and sport.
• Corticosteroid injections: Injections of steroid medications can reduce tendonitis pain. We recommend these injections only for short-term use.
• Acupuncture: Our trained acupuncturists insert hair-thin needles near the affected tendon to restore your body’s natural flow of energy (Qi) and promote healing from tendonitis.
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): Your platelets are a part of your blood and have proteins called growth factors that promote healing. In this specialized tendonitis treatment, we take some of your blood and separate the platelets. We then combine the separated platelets with another sample of your blood so that it has higher levels of platelets and growth factors than normal. We inject that blood back into the inflamed tendon, where the growth factors can help the injury heal faster.

If you have chronic, long-term pain and these methods don’t work or work only temporarily, we may recommend minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery for tendonitis treatment. Using small incisions, these procedures allow us to access and repair your tendon in a targeted way, leading to less tissue damage and an easier recovery.

If surgery isn’t right for you, physical therapy or occupational therapy may be your best option for tendonitis treatment. Our therapists can help you learn exercises that strengthen your tendons and muscles. These exercises also help improve your range of motion and relieve tendonitis pain.