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Tendinitis

 

Also called: tendonitis

A condition in which the tissue connecting muscle to bone becomes inflamed.

 

Most common types

  • Tennis elbow

    An irritation of the tissue connecting the forearm muscle to the elbow.

  • Golfer's elbow

    A condition that causes pain on the inner side of the elbow.

  • De Quervain's tenosynovitis

    A painful condition affecting the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist.

  • Achilles tendinitis

    An injury of the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscle to the heel bone.

  • Swimmer's shoulder

    Shoulder pain caused by connective tissue (a tendon) rubbing on a shoulder blade.

  • Patellar tendinitis

    An injury to the tissue connecting the kneecap to the shin bone (patellar tendon).

  • Tendinitis of wrist

    Swelling of the tissues (tendons) connecting muscle to bone in the wrist.

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

  • Cleaning house

  • Shoveling

  • Painting

  • Scrubbing

  • Tennis

  • Golf

  • Skiing

  • Throwing and pitching

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.

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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:

What Are the Symptoms of Tendinitis?

The symptoms of tendinitis include:

  • Pain at the site of the tendon and surrounding area. Pain may gradually build up or be sudden and severe, especially if calcium deposits are present.

  • Loss of motion in the shoulder, called "adhesive capsulitis" or frozen shoulder.

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