Tendonitis: A General Overview
Edited By: Nathan Reddy Allipeta and Nathan Chang
Athletes fear the name “tendonitis” and do so for a good reason. These injuries are considered to be grueling and can last for a long time without proper treatment, so it is important to learn about them. The formal definition of tendonitis is the inflammation of the tendon, a thick fibrous cord that attaches muscle to bone. Now let’s look into some specifics.
What Causes Tendonitis?
Tendonitis is most often caused by repetitive movements over a long period of time, but it is also possible for it to be a sudden injury. Most people that develop tendonitis have hobbies and jobs that involve repeating the same movements over a long period of time. Although there are often suspicions of what specific action or movement caused tendonitis, the exact reason is unknown. Tendonitis may also be related and linked to diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or infections.
Common Types of Tendonitis
Lateral Epicondylitis
This is more commonly known as tennis elbow and causes pain in the backside of the elbow and forearm. The pain is caused by damage to tendons that bend the wrist away from the palm.
Medial Epicondylitis
This is more commonly known as golfer’s or baseball elbow and causes pain from the elbow to the wrist on the side of the forearm. This is caused by the damage of tendons that bend the wrist towards the palm.
Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
This is more commonly known as bicep tendonitis and is a shoulder disorder. It occurs because of inflammation of the shoulder capsule and other tendons in the area. It is most common among young athletes and middle-aged people who use their arms overhead for sports like swimming.
Patellar Tendinopathy
This is more commonly known as Jumper’s knee and causes pain in the knee. It occurs because of small tears in the patellar tendon and results in sensitivity in the patellar tendon. It is most common among athletes in jumping sports like basketball and volleyball.
Achilles Tendonitis
The Achilles Tendon is a band of tissue that links the muscles of your calf to your heel and it is named after the Greek warrior Achilles, as it was the only part of his body that had any weakness. It occurs because of overuse and inflammation of the Achilles Tendon. People with Achilles Tendonitis can experience severe pain during and after running, climbing stairs, or sprinting.
Common Symptoms
Some common symptoms include:
Swelling and inflammation
Pain when tendon is moved
Grating feeling when joint is movement
Restricted movement of joint
Risk Factors
Some risk factors to Tendonitis may include:
Age: Tendons become less flexible and easier to injure as the body gets older and adults 40 or older are at higher risk
Work: Tendonitis is more common in people with labor intensive jobs and activities that include repeated motions, awkward motions, overhead reaching, vibration, and forced movement. This includes jobs like gardening.
Activities: A sudden increase in difficulty of exercise, poor equipment (ex. old shoes), hard surfaces of gym, little recovery time, and poor posture or body movement can all result in risk for tendonitis.
Prevention
Here are some tips towards reducing the chances of developing Tendinitis:
Improve the technique behind movements. Make sure any exercise or physical movement you do isn’t sending shock to your joints or causing stress in your tendons. It is important to get professional instruction when starting a new exercise or sport.
Prepare your muscles and body for movement. Strengthening your muscles and tendons can help them bear the load during other heavy exercises.
Stretching. It is essential your joints and muscles move through full range of motion after exercise to release the tension stored in them from a workout. Stretching after a workout can help them recover.
Avoid doing the same repetitive exercise. Doing the same repetitive exercise can lead to overuse of your tendons and lead to symptoms of tendinitis. It is important to mix high-impact exercises with low-impact exercises when working out to avoid overuse.
Treatment
Some sources of treatment are:
Medication: Some medications that can be used to treat or help lessen the symptoms of Tendinitis include pain relievers (ex. Aspirin, Ibuprofen), Steroid shots, and Platelet-rich plasma. It is important to note that some of these medications are addictive and repeated steroid shots can lead to weakening in the tendon.
Physical Therapy: Going to a physical therapist is an excellent way to strengthen your muscles and tendon and help reduce the inflammation. It is also an effective treatment for many chronic tendon conditions. Make sure to get professional help before trying to stretch yourself.
Surgical Procedures: Some procedures that can be done, if physical therapy hasn’t resolved symptoms are dry needling and overall surgery. Dry needling involves ultrasound to make small holes in the tendon to stimulate factors involved in tendon healing. Based on the severity of the tendon injury, surgical repair may be necessary to replace the tendon.
Home remedies: A home remedy to bring relief or even cure tendonitis is a technique known as R.I.C.E. This includes resting the joint to avoid an increase in pain and swimming. Next, ice the injured area for up to twenty minutes. After, compress the area by wrapping it tightly with elastic bandages and then elevate the joint for relief. The acronym stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. However, it is important to note that, according to the national institute of health, the R.I.C.E method is only effective within the first 48 hours of treatment. Beyond that, it is more beneficial to administer heat treatments as advised by the doctor. These heat treatments enhance healing as they improve blood flow.
It is very important to talk to your health care provider or physicians about further treatment if you begin experiencing symptoms for tendonitis. Tendonitis can be a challenging and painful condition, so it is important to keep the causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention in mind. Always remember to consult a professional doctor before making any major decisions about your health.