Tendinitis, or tendonitis, is an irritation or inflammation of a tendon. It may be caused either by injury or minor, repetitive impacts. Activities that can cause tendinitis may include tennis, golf, raking, gardening, skiing and digging.
Risk Factors
Anybody can develop tendinitis, but it could be common in adults who are over 40 years old. As people age, their tendons become less elastic, less able to tolerate stress and more prone to tearing. Other risk factors may include the following:
• Abnormalities in a joint or bone, such as differences in the lengths of a patient’s legs or arthritis in a joint that can cause stress in a tendon
• Stresses caused by other conditions, like thyroid disorders, reactions to certain medications, gout, psoriatic arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
• Infection, particularly infection caused by a cat or dog bite
• Overuse of a tendon, particularly if the tendon is not accustomed to the movement or activity.
What Are the Symptoms?
Tendinitis can occur any place where a tendon connects a muscle to a bone. The most common places, though, are the elbow, shoulder, Achilles tendon, knee, hip and the base of the thumb.
The chief symptom of tendinitis may be pain in the affected tendon and neighboring area. If calcium deposits are involved, the pain can be severe and sudden; otherwise, it might build up gradually. The pain is typically a dull ache that occurs when the patient moves the affected place. There may also be mild swelling, weakness and tenderness. In some cases, the affected area might make popping or squeaking sounds.
Some symptoms may depend on where the tendinitis is. A person with tennis elbow might have trouble gripping objects while someone with tendinitis in the knees could have trouble navigating stairs.
How to Prevent Tendinitis
One effective way to prevent tendinitis may involve being careful when engaging in strenuous and/or repetitive physical activity. People who aren’t used to a lot of physical activity may want to start slow and build up their stamina. If something starts to hurt, it may be best to stop. The patient may rest or move on to some other activity, and then try again. If the pain recurs, it may be best to stop for the day.
Learn More About Tendinitis
At Real Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery in Moonee Ponds, we offer hand surgery for patients in need of tendon reconstruction. To learn more about this procedure, schedule an appointment at our office. We happily serve the Melbourne and surrounding areas. Contact us today to book a consultation!
