Tendonitis

Tendonitis is a common condition that causes annoying symptoms, and sometimes it could lead to severe complications.

Tendonitis

Tendons are thick fibrous cords that connect the muscles with the bones, and the repetitive movement causes tendonitis (tendon inflammation).

Causes and risk factors of tendonitis

• Tendinitis usually occurs due to repetitive and overuse movement over time, such as during sports (like tennis, running, and swimming).
• An injury or a strain from a sudden movement can also cause tendonitis.

The risk of tendinitis increases due to the following factors:

• Aging.
• Working in certain jobs that require repeated motions and forced movements, such as gardeners and manual laborers.
• Changes in physical activities, like a sudden increase in the difficulty or amount of training, bad body postures, or not taking enough time to recover after a certain injury.
• Certain conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, osteoarthritis, gout, and infections.

Symptoms of tendonitis

Tendonitis often occurs in the shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, and heels. It causes:

• Pain in the site of the tendon and the surrounding area.
• Swelling and skin discoloration.
• Joint stiffness or difficulty moving them.
• Hearing or feeling a cracking sensation when moving.
• If left untreated, tendinitis could increase the risk of breaking down or tearing the tendon, muscle weakness, and difficulty moving the part of the body.

Diagnosis of tendonitis

• Physical exam.
• Imaging tests.

Treatment of tendonitis

• Medications.
• Physical therapy.
• Surgery in severe cases.
• Taking care of tendonitis at home by icing the area, resting, and avoiding the activities that cause the symptoms.

Prevention of tendonitis

• Avoid putting too much stress on the tendon, and take breaks continuously.
• Stretch after physical activities.
• Position your body correctly.
• Don’t hold heavy things on one side of the body.
• Stop any activity when you feel pain.