A tendon is the tissue at the end of a muscle that connects the muscle to bone. It helps provide flexibility and movement to the joints throughout your body, including the knee, foot, elbow and hip. When an area is overused, the tendon can become inflamed, causing tendonitis. The result is pain, stiffness and tenderness around and just outside the joint.
About
Pain in the shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, ankle, foot or Achilles can be related to tendonitis. It usually strikes the body parts you use most. Certain exercises like running, jumping, weight lifting and swinging a tennis racket can cause repetitive stress, which can weaken the tendon, making it lose elasticity. This can eventually lead to tiny tears, which can become inflamed if the tendon is not allowed to heal properly.
Symptoms
Symptoms of tendonitis include stiffness or pain around a joint upon getting out of bed in the morning or when first starting to move. This pain can decrease during activity once the tendon is warmed up, or it can get worse with activity. Often, the pain gets worse during the day, especially if the area with tendonitis was used extensively earlier in the day.
Effects
If tendonitis goes untreated or is severe enough, it can weaken the tendon, causing it to eventually rupture or completely tear. A perfectly healthy tendon can also tear when it encounters a sudden, unexpected force, such as an abrupt sprint or lifting a weight that is too heavy. When a tendon tears, a sudden pain is felt with swelling and an inability to move normally.
Treatment
If tendonitis is caught early, you may be able to heal it through rest, ice and ibuprofen. It is important to recognize what activity is causing the pain and reduce or eliminate it until the tendonitis is gone. Most cases of tendonitis can feel better within three weeks but may take up to six weeks to fully heal.
Other Treatment
If the above treatments do not work, medical attention may be required. Your doctor can examine the joint and tendon to determine the level of damage and recommend a stronger anti-inflammatory or a more aggressive treatment. Sometimes scar tissue has formed, which needs to be broken up. You may require physical therapy, massage, ultrasound or immobility to completely heal the area.
Considerations
When the tendonitis is gone and you are ready to resume activity, start back slowly. Give your body time to build back to its level prior to injury. Also, continue stretching and strengthening your muscles since tendonitis is often caused by a lack of flexibility, strength or muscular imbalance.
