Tendinitis Information, Treatment, and Prevention

WebMD Medical Reference in collaboration with

What Is Tendinitis?

Tendinitis is an inflammation or irritation of the tendon, a thick cord that attaches bone to muscle.

What Causes Tendinitis?

Tendinitis is most often caused by repetitive, minor impact on the affected area, or from a sudden more serious injury.

There are many activities that can cause Tendinitis, including:

• Gardening
• Raking
• Carpentry
• Shoveling
• Painting
• Scrubbing
• Tennis
• Golf
• Skiing
• Throwing and pitching

Incorrect posture at work or home or poor stretching or conditioning before exercise or playing sports also increases a person's risk. Other risk factors for Tendinitis, include:

• An abnormal or poorly placed bone or joint (such as length differences in your legs or arthritis in a joint) that stresses soft-tissue structures
• Stresses from other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis, thyroid disorders, or unusual medication reactions

Occasionally an infection can cause Tendinitis.

Who Gets Tendinitis?

Anyone can get Tendinitis, but it is more common in adults, especially those over 40 years of age. As tendons age they tolerate less stress, are less elastic, and are easier to tear.

Where Does Tendinitis Occur?

Tendinitis can occur in almost any area of the body where a tendon connects a bone to a muscle. The most common places are:

• Base of the thumb
• Elbow
• Shoulder
• Hip
• Knee
• Achilles tendon

What Are the Symptoms of Tendinitis?

The symptoms of Tendinitis include:

• Pain at the site of the tendon and surrounding area. Pain may be a gradual buildup or sudden and severe, especially if calcium deposits are present.
• Loss of motion in the shoulder, called "adhesive capsulitis" or frozen shoulder.

How Can I Avoid Tendinitis?

When performing activities:

• Take it slow at first. Gradually build up your activity level.
• Use limited force and limited repetitions.
• Stop if unusual pain occurs. Do something else. Try again later and if pain recurs, stop that activity for the day.

How Is Tendinitis Treated?

Initial treatment includes:

• Avoiding activities that aggravate the problem
• Resting the injured area
• Icing the area the day of the injury
• Taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines

If the condition does not improve in a week, see your doctor. You may need more advanced treatments, including:

• Corticosteroid injections. Corticosteroids (often called "steroids") are often used because they work quickly to decrease the inflammation and pain.
• Physical therapy. This can be very beneficial, especially for a "frozen shoulder." Physical therapy includes range of motion exercises and splinting (thumb, forearm, bands).
• Surgery. This is only rarely needed for severe problems not responding to other treatments.

How Long Will Recovery Take?

Tendinitis may take weeks to months to recover, depending on the severity of your injury.

Warning

You should see your doctor if you experience any of the following:

• Fever (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Swelling, redness, and warmth
• General illness or multiple sites of pain
• Inability to move the affected area

These could be signs of another problem that needs more immediate attention.

Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases.

Edited by Tracy Shuman, MD, WebMD, February 2006.

SOURCE: American College of Rheumatology.