Tendonitis - Symptoms and Treatments

Tendonitis results when tendons become inflamed. Tendons are the thick, fibrous cords of tissue that attach muscles to bones. A healthy tendon allows for smooth muscle movement, but when it becomes irritated it can result in pain and limited mobility for the affected area. There are many common causes of tendonitis.

Common Causes of Tendonitis:

Overuse – When a particular muscle group is used repetitively the tendons can become irritated and inflamed.
Overextension – If you are beginning a new exercise regimen, or if you are extending your normal exercise routine, you may suffer some tendonitis in the overworked areas.
Age – As we age our muscles and bones lose the moisture and elasticity that keep them healthy, and the result of this aging process is that tendinitis can occur much more often, with less warrant.
Injury – If you’ve experienced an injury the tendons within that localized area may remain inflamed even after the injury has healed.
Underlying Medical Condition – There may be an abnormality in your bone structure, or an underlying rheumatic condition that could be causing pain in the tendon area.

Symptoms of Tendonitis:

The symptoms associated with tendonitis can vary depending on the location and the severity of the tendonitis. However, the most common symptoms begin with pain during the activity that may have caused or irritated the tendons in question, a burning sensation in the affected area, pain caused by touching the affected area, and limited movement as a result of the pain.

Common Muscles Affected by Tendonitis:

Tendonitis can occur at any given point within the body where tendons attach a muscle to a bone. However, there are some major areas of the body that have a tendency to develop tendonitis more often due to the extensive use of the muscle region. Some of the most common muscle areas affected by tendonitis are:

Treatment for Tendonitis:

The first thing you should do if you are suffering from tendonitis is to isolate and brace the affected area as much as possible. You should also treat the area with hot and cold compresses combined with an over the counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID), such as ibuprofen. You should avoid the activity that caused the pain as much as possible, and if the pain has not subsided within the first two weeks you should contact a physician in order to determine if there isn’t an underlying condition that could be causing the pain.

Tendonitis: Symptoms and Treatments