Tendinitis
Introduction
Tendinitis is a common condition that causes swelling around
muscles and bones. It happens most often in the shoulders,
elbows, knees, hips, heels or wrists.
Tendinitis is usually caused by overuse or by repeated injury to a
certain area. People who perform activities that require repetitive
motions or place stress on joints are at higher risk for tendinitis.
This reference summary will help you understand tendinitis. It
explains its symptoms, causes and treatment options.
Tendons
Bones, Muscles and Tendons
Tendons are found throughout your body. Tendinitis happens
when one of your tendons becomes inflamed. The following
section reviews information about your bones and muscles to
help you better understand how tendinitis affects your body.
Bones help you stand up straight and muscles help your bones
move together. Bones connect at the joints. The most obvious
joints are the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees and ankles.
Other joints are found between the different bones of your
fingers and toes. You also have joints that allow your vertebrae
to move.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2013, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 03/20/2013
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Tendons are the tough cords of tissue that attach muscles to bones. Tendons help
create movement by making the muscles push or pull the bones
in different ways. Some tendons have special names. For
example, the tendon that connects the calf muscles to the heel
on the back of the foot is called the Achilles tendon. Tendons can
be small, like those found in the hand or ankle. They can also be
large, like the Achilles tendon.
Tendons are found throughout your body. Tendinitis is what
happens when a tendon becomes inflamed and swollen.
Symptoms
Tendinitis means inflammation of one of your tendons. This
inflammation happens in the soft tissue around muscles and bones.
It happens most often in the shoulders, elbows, knees, hips, heels
or wrists.
Pain and soreness around your joint may be a sign that you have
tendonitis. The pain may be described as an ache and can be felt
more when you move the affected limb or joint. Pain may also radiate
to other areas. The area around a joint with tendonitis can sometimes
look red and swollen.
See your healthcare provider if you experience:
• Joint pain so severe that you have trouble moving
• Pain that lasts more than one week
• Pain that interferes with daily activities
Causes
The main cause of tendinitis is overusing a joint. You may overuse a joint by doing
repetitive tasks. Repeated injury to a certain area such as the wrist or ankle can
also cause tendinitis. Tendons become less flexible with age and are more likely
to become damaged.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2013, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 03/20/2013
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Inflammation of a tendon may also be caused by:
• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Infection
• Thyroid disease
Tendinitis is also caused by old age. People perform a lot of physical
activities throughout their lives. These activities require them to
repeatedly use their tendons. Over time, this can cause the joints to
become inflamed.
Risk Factors
Your risk of developing tendinitis increases with age. As you get
older, your joints become more stressed. This increases the
likelihood that you will develop joint-related pain. For this reason,
age is a risk factor for tendinitis.
People who regularly perform tasks that require repetitive
motions have an increased risk of developing tendinitis.
This includes carpenters, gardeners, musicians, and
athletes. Some common forms of tendinitis are named
after the sports that increase their risk. They include:
• Tennis elbow
• Golfer’s elbow
• Pitcher’s shoulder
• Swimmer’s shoulder
• Jumper’s knee
Certain medical conditions may also increase
your risk of developing tendinitis. Arthritis,
diabetes, and gout have been linked to cases
of tendinitis.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2013, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 03/20/2013
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Diagnosis
A diagnosis of tendinitis begins with a medical history and physical examination.
A good diagnosis depends on your healthcare provider knowing:
• The location of the pain
• When it began
• What you were doing when it began
• How long the pain lasts
• What relieves the pain
• What makes the pain worse
As part of the physical examination, your healthcare provider
may perform a selective tissue tension test to determine which
tendon is affected. Touching specific areas of the tendon allows
your healthcare provider to pinpoint the area of inflammation.
Your doctor may also use an MRI to confirm inflammation. An MRI is medical imaging
in which radio waves and a powerful magnet linked to a computer are used to create
detailed pictures of areas inside the body. The imaging test detects both bone and soft
tissues like muscles and tendons. An anesthetic-injection test is another way to confirm
a diagnosis of tendinitis. A small amount of anesthetic is injected into the affected area.
If the pain is temporarily relieved, the diagnosis is confirmed.
To rule out infection, your doctor may remove and test fluid from the inflamed area.
Treatment
Your healthcare provider can treat the common causes of tendinitis. Complicated
cases may require referral to a specialist, such as an orthopedist, a rheumatologist
and/or a physiatrist. Treatment focuses on healing the injured tendon. The first step in
treating tendinitis is to reduce pain and inflammation.
Reducing pain and inflammation is done with rest,
pressure on the affected area, and elevation.
Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines
such as aspirin or ibuprofen can also help.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2013, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 03/20/2013
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Ice may also be used in injuries. However, most cases of tendinitis are considered
ongoing, and ice is not helpful. If tendinitis is the result of an acute injury and ice is
needed, an ice pack can be applied to the affected area for 15-20 minutes every 4 to 6
hours for 3 to 5 days. Your healthcare provider may recommend longer use of ice and
a stretching program.
Your doctor may advise you to limit the amount of activity
involving the affected joint. This can encourage healing and
prevent further injury. In some cases, protective devices may
temporarily reduce stress to an inflamed tendon. This speeds
up healing. Protective devices include foot orthosis for the
ankle and foot, or splints for the knee or hand. These devices
allow general activities, like walking, to continue as normal.
For severe cases of tendinitis, you may receive an injection
into the area around the swollen tendon.
Iontophoresis may also be used to deliver medication to the affected area.
Iontophoresis uses an electrical current to push the medicine through the skin,
directly over the inflamed tendon.
Severe cases of tendinitis may also be treated with therapeutic ultrasound. Therapeutic
ultrasound is a type of physical therapy in which sound waves are used to massage
certain tissues. It warms deep tissues and can improve blood flow.
If there is still no improvement or if a tendon is completely torn, surgery may be needed
to repair the damage. After surgery, an exercise program is needed to strengthen
surrounding muscles to prevent repeat injury.
Prevention
There are several ways to prevent inflammation or reduce the
pain caused by inflammation. When engaging in physically
demanding activities:
• Warm up or stretch before an activity
• Begin new activities or exercise regimens slowly
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2013, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 03/20/2013
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• Increase physical demands after completing several well-tolerated sessions
• Talk to a physical trainer about exercises to strengthen the muscles around
your affected joints
When going about daily activities:
• Practice good posture and position your body properly
• Take breaks from repetitive tasks often
• Do not sit still for long periods
To reduce the pain caused by tendinitis:
• Cushion the affected joint using knee and elbow pads that have foam
• Increase the gripping surface of tools using gloves or padding
• Use two hands to hold heavy tools or equipment
If you have a history of tendinitis, talk to your healthcare provider before engaging in
new exercises and activities.
Summary
People get tendinitis by overusing a joint. It is also caused by repeated injury. Your risk
of developing tendinitis increases with age. Regularly performing the same motions
also increases the risk of developing tendinitis.
Warming up or stretching before beginning the
activity, practicing good posture, and using two
hands to hold heavy equipment are just a few
ways to prevent tendinitis.
If you have a history of tendinitis, talk to your
healthcare provider before engaging in new
exercises and physically-demanding activities.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2013, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 03/20/2013
opfo0101
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