Tendinitis is a condition in which the tendon is inflamed or irritated, according to the Mayo Clinic. Tendons are thick cords that attach bones to muscles, allowing limbs to be moved when a muscle is flexed. Tendinitis causes the region just outside the affected joint to be painful and tender. The Mayo Clinic adds that severe tendinitis can cause a tendon to rupture, which may require surgery for repair. There are several types of tendinitis, which are named depending on the tendon that is inflamed.
Rotator Cuff Tendinitis
Merck Manuals, an online medical library, reports that rotator cuff tendinitis is the most common cause of pain in the shoulder. The Mayo Clinic adds that common names for rotator cuff tendinitis are pitcher's shoulder and swimmer's shoulder, as people who play baseball and swim are susceptible to the types of shoulder rotation that can cause this tendon to become inflamed. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) indicates that rotator cuff tendinitis causes pain at the shoulder tip and the outer, upper portion of the arm.
Elbow Tendinitis
Golfer's elbow and tennis elbow are both forms of elbow tendinitis and are also called epicondylitis, according to NIAMS. While golfer's elbow involves inflammation of the inner elbow tendon, tennis elbow involves inflammation of the outer elbow tendon. People who engage in activities where the hand rapidly grips or turns are also susceptible to elbow tendinitis. Carpenters, musicians, dentists, manicurists, and painters are all at risk for developing this type of tendinitis.
Knee Tendinitis
According to NIAMS, another common type of tendinitis is knee tendinitis, which often affects runners, dancers and cyclists. This is also often called jumper's knee, as repetitive jumping may also cause the tendon that attaches the thigh muscle (quadracep) to the knee to become inflamed.
Achilles Tendinitis
The Achilles tendon is the tendon connecting the back of the heel to the calf muscle. Tendinitis involving this tendon commonly affects people who climb lots of stairs, such as people who use a "stair stepper" exercise machine. NIAMS also reports that Achilles tendinitis is most common in people who do not warm up and stretch properly before exercise. Football, tennis, and basketball athletes are also susceptible to this type of tendinitis because of the repetitive quick acceleration and jumping that is required. Age and arthritis can also contribute to Achilles tendinitis susceptibility.
