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Tendinitis is a medical condition that results from inflammation of tendons, which are the connective tissues that attach muscles to bones. It usually occurs due to repetitive activities and can cause pain and discomfort.
Tendinitis commonly affects several areas of the body, including the elbow, knee, shoulder, hip, Achilles tendon, and the base of the thumb. It is also referred to as tendonitis and results in tenderness and pain around the area where the affected tendon connects to the bone.
In general, rest, physical therapy, and pain-relieving medication are sufficient to treat most cases of tendinitis. However, if the inflammation persists over a prolonged period, it can lead to tendon tearing, which may necessitate surgical treatment.
Symptoms
Tendinitis symptoms typically manifest at the site where a tendon connects to a bone, and may include the following:
- Discomfort, which is often characterized as a persistent, throbbing ache, particularly when the affected limb or joint is in motion.
- Tenderness in the affected area.
- Swelling
If you experience tendinitis, taking care of yourself can often be effective. However, if your symptoms persist for several days and start to affect your ability to perform daily tasks, it’s advisable to seek medical attention from your healthcare provider.
Causes
A sudden injury can result in tendinitis. Yet, the most likely reason is repeating the same movement again over time. The majority of persons who get tendinitis do so as a result of repetitive actions in their work or hobbies. Tendons are strained as a result.
While doing repetitive movements for a work or in sports, proper mobility is extremely crucial. Inappropriate movement can overload the tendon and cause tendinitis.
Risk factors
There are several factors that can increase the likelihood of developing tendinitis, including:
- Age. As individuals age, their tendons experience reduced flexibility, rendering them more susceptible to injuries.
- Occupation. Individuals who work in occupations that require repetitive movements, awkward postures, frequent overhead reaching, exposure to vibrations, and forced movements, such as gardeners and manual laborers, are more susceptible to developing tendinitis.
- Activities. Tendinitis is more likely to occur during physical activities when certain precautions are not taken. Factors that can increase the risk of tendinitis include sudden and significant increases in training intensity or volume, using inappropriate or worn-out equipment such as shoes, exercising on hard surfaces like concrete or gym floors, not allowing sufficient recovery time after an injury, and improper body posture or movements.
- Having a disease and taking medications. Tendinitis risk can be elevated due to specific medical conditions, like diabetes. Additionally, certain medications may increase the risk of developing tendinitis. These medications include fluoroquinolines, which are a type of antibiotics, cortisone which is a corticosteroid, and aromatase inhibitors, which are used to reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Diagnosis
In most cases, tendinitis can be diagnosed through a physical examination without the need for further tests. However, medical professionals may use imaging tests like X-rays to eliminate the possibility of other underlying conditions that could be causing the symptoms.
Treatment
The initial treatment approach involves:
- Avoiding any activities that may worsen the condition.
- Allowing the injured area to rest.
- Applying ice to the affected area on the day of the injury.
- Using non-prescription anti-inflammatory medications.
If there is no improvement in the condition after approximately three weeks, it is recommended to seek medical attention from a doctor. In such cases, you may require more advanced treatment options, such as:
Medications
Among the medications used to treat tendinitis are:
- Pain relievers. Pain from tendinitis may be alleviated by aspirin, naproxen sodium, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen. Several of these medications may upset your stomach or result in renal or liver issues. Painkiller creams can be administered directly to the skin. These items can aid in pain relief while preventing the negative effects of ingesting these medications.
- Steroids. Injections of steroids around a tendon could potentially alleviate tendinitis pain. However, it’s not advisable to administer these shots for tendinitis that persists for over three months. Using steroid shots frequently could potentially weaken the tendon and raise the possibility of it tearing.
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP). During this procedure, a sample of your own blood is drawn, and the platelets and other healing components are separated out by spinning the blood. It’s a good idea to get a second opinion if you have any questions. Platelet-rich plasma has showed promise in the treatment of numerous chronic tendon disorders, while research is currently being done to determine the optimal technique to use this substance.
Physical therapy
The muscle and tendon can be strengthened using physical therapy activities. Many chronic tendon disorders can be effectively treated with eccentric strengthening, which emphasizes muscle contraction while the muscle is stretching.
Surgery and other procedures
Your doctor might advise the following if physical therapy has not been successful in treating your symptoms:
- Dry needling. Typically, this technique utilizes ultrasound guidance to create tiny punctures in the tendon using a fine needle, with the aim of triggering the activation of factors essential for tendon repair and regeneration.
- Surgery. Surgical repair may be required depending on the degree of your tendon injury, particularly if the tendon has torn away from the bone.
