What is tendonitis?
Tendonitis occurs when a tendon, the connective tissue that joins muscles to bones, becomes inflamed. it can start suddenly, often due to a sporting injury, or over time, due to overuse or repetitive tasks. Common areas include the elbow (as seen in Tennis Elbow), Achilles, wrist, and shoulders.
What are the symptoms of tendonitis?
Tendonitis is characterised by pain and tenderness at the site of the affected tendon. Swelling is less common, but may also be present. People experiencing tendonitis may feel stiffness in the affected joints, and more severe cases can lead to weakness.
What causes tendonitis?
A common injury caused by repetitive tasks that cause strain and friction of the tendon. For example, wrist tendonitis can be caused by sports such as badminton or working on a production line. Achilles tendonitis is commonly caused by sudden increased physical activity or running on hard surfaces. It can also be caused by over-exertion, for example, lifting weights that are too heavy, or by running too long or too often without appropriate training.
Can I prevent tendonitis?
The best way to prevent tendonitis is to ensure that you have enough recovery time in between sporting activities, and take adequate breaks at work. Other strategies to help mitigate the risk of tendonitis include losing weight to reduce stress on the joints, maintaining good form during exercise, and wearing appropriate footwear.
When should I see a Physiotherapist?
Most cases of tendonitis is short term and can be treated at home with ice packs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDS) medication and rest. The best thing you can do to treat tendonitis is to stop the activity that caused the tendonitis and rest of the area.
If your tendonitis is causing severe discomfort or is not getting better after a couple of days, you should seek medical treatment. Always consult a medical professional before taking NSAIDs, as these can have serious health consequences if used inappropriately.
Types Of Tendonitis
As you can see in the image to the right tendonitis can occur in the following areas:
- Shoulders
- Biceps
- Elbows
- IT bands
- Knees
- Achilles.