Tendinitis causes symptoms and prevention

Tendons are a band of thick connecting tissues (fibrous cord) that connects a muscle with its bony attachment. Irritation or inflammation of a tendon is known as tendinitis. In this condition, the outside of a joint becomes tender and painful.

Tendinitis is a common condition around your knees, ankles, wrists, elbow, and shoulders. It can mostly occur around any of the tendons and specifically around the joints.

Different types of tendinitis conditions have the following common names:

• Jumper’s knee
• Swimmer’s shoulder
• Pitcher’s shoulder
• Golfer’s elbow
• Tennis elbow

Tendinitis Causes Symptoms and Prevention

Tendinitis mostly affects the joint where muscles attach to the bones. The point where a tendon attaches the bone has a dull ache and the pain exacerbates when the affected joint is moved. The joint also has mild swelling and tenderness.

Tendinitis Causes

Tendinitis most commonly develops when the joint is subjected to repeated movements or a particular type of movement over a period of time. However, most often the cause of tendinitis is a sudden injury. Furthermore, in many cases, it has been seen that tendinitis is associated with the hobbies or jobs of people that involve repetitive movements of the joints. In general, when tendons are subjected to repeated stress, they become sore and tendinitis develops.

Sportsmen who develop tendinitis use improper techniques while playing and performing repetitive movements or activities related to their play or job. Overload or undue stress on the tendons due to improper sporting techniques can lead to tendinitis – tennis elbow.

 Risk factors of Tendinitis

Mostly physical activities, professional activities or movements or sporting activities or certain types of jobs are the prominent risk factors for tendinitis.

Age

Aging, inactivity, and excess activity in older people make the tendons less flexible – and therefore, they tend to injuries and wear and tear.

Occupation

Tendinitis is more common in people whose jobs involve:

• Awkward positions
• Forceful exertion
• Vibration
• Frequent overhead reaching
• Repetitive motions

When to see a doctor

Tendinitis if mild can get set with proper care and home-based remedial measures. However, it is necessary to consult an Orthopedic doctor if the symptoms persist and become progressively severe with every passing day. When symptoms become worse. They may interfere with daily routine activities.

Tendinitis causes symptoms and prevention

To prevent the development of tendinitis, adopt the following measures:

Don’t involve in exercise or physical activity that puts excess pressure and stress on the tendons. Even if you perform such an activity don’t continue it for long. If you notice any activity to be exhaustive, tiring, and painful then stop that and take a rest.

Mix up the activity that you do:  If an activity causes pain, then try a different exercise. For instance, if running is causing painful knees, then shift to low-impact swimming or biking.

Stretch before and after activity. Try a range of stretching activities are motions that can help maximize the range of motions of joints and minimize repetitive trauma of the joints. Warm-up your muscles before stretching.

Complications of Tendinitis

Treatment is necessary if the symptoms last for long and interfere with daily activities. In the absence of treatment, the risk of rupturing the tendon is very high. And, if the tendon ruptures, surgery becomes mandatory.

If tendinitis continues for several weeks or months, the pain becomes worse and the inflammation becomes chronic and may lead to tendinosis. This condition is associated with degenerative changes in the tendon.

Bottom Line

In the majority of the cases, wherein tendinitis affects day-to-day activities, the pain, inflammation, and irritation of the tendons alleviate with medications and physical therapy. If tendinitis is severe and leads to the rupture of a tendon, you may need surgery.