Tendonitis (also spelled "tendinitis") is inflammation of a tendon. Tendons are strong bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. Tendonitis can occur within in any of the 600 muscle-tendon units in your body. But it commonly occurs in the rotator cuff (supraspinatus tendon) in the shoulder, wrist extensors (lateral epicondyle) and pronators (medial epicondyle) in the elbow, patellar and quadriceps tendons in the knee, and Achilles tendon in the heel.
Common tendonitis conditions include:
- Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)
- Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer's Elbow)
- Pitcher's Shoulder
- Swimmer's Shoulder
- Jumper's Knee
- Achilles Tendonitis
Most of the time, tendonitis is caused by aging or overuse and repetitive movement injuries in recreational sports, hobbies and work that cause stress on the tendons. Improper technique is largely responsible for most tendonitis cases.
Is Tendinopathy Another Term for Tendonitis?
No, tendonitis is inflammation of the tendon resulting from micro-tears that happen occur as a result of aging or overuse and repetitive movements. Tendinopathy is an umbrella term for degeneration of the collagen protein that forms the tendon in response to chronic overuse. It is characterized by a combination of pain, swelling, and impaired performance. Tendinopathies in athletes typically occur in the Achilles and patellar tendons. In others, these injuries usually occur in the Achilles and lateral epicondyle (outer part of the elbow joint).
Tendonitis vs. Tendinosis
Tendonitis and tendinosis are two different conditions. Tendonitis is an acute condition characterized by a painful tendon with signs of inflammation within the tendon that can be seen under a microscope (histologic examination). Tendinosis is a chronic (persistent or recurring) condition caused by repetitive trauma or an injury that hasn't healed, characterized by localized swollen tendon nodes.
The good news is that tendonitis can be treated at home and with physical therapy. Surgery is rarely needed.
At-home Tendonitis Treatments
Things you can do at home for your tendonitis include:
- Rest the injured area and avoid activities that make the pain worse.
- Apply ice or cold packs for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, as often as 2 times an hour, for the first 72 hours. Keep using ice as long as it helps.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, if needed. Be sure to follow the nonprescription medicine precautions. Always take these medicines exactly as prescribed or according to the label.
- If one exercise or activity causes you a particular, persistent pain, try something else. This is called "cross-training". Mixing up an impact-loading exercise (e.g., running or high-impact aerobics) with low-impact exercises like riding a recumbent bike or swimming can help give your tendonitis a chance to heal and can help prevent future occurrences.
Physical Therapy for Tendonitis
Dry needling is one of several very effective treatments for tendonitis. We can help reduce the risk of injuring your tendons further by evaluating your movement patterns and teaching you the correct form and techniques so you can continue enjoying your recreational activities and proper workplace ergonomics so you can be more productive at work.
Contact us today for more information on how we can help relieve your tendonitis pain and prevent you from getting tendinosis or tendinopathy.
