Tendinitis refers to the inflammation of the tendon, which is a thick and compact cord that joins the muscle to the bone.
What causes Tendinitis?
Tendinitis is typically caused when there is repeated minor impact to that particular area. It can sometimes also be caused by a sudden and more serious injury.
Some of the activities that commonly cause Tendinitis include gardening, painting, carpentry, skiing, scrubbing, raking, golfing and shoveling.
Other risk factors for Tendinitis include poor conditioning, inadequate stretching before engaging in any physical activity and incorrect posture.
Occasionally, Tendinitis can also be brought about by an infection.
Symptoms of Tendinitis
Tendinitis is characterized by a gradual build up of pain in and around the area of the affected tendon. However if calcium deposits are present, the pain can be severe and sudden.
Tendinitis can occur in any part of the body where a muscle is connected to the bone by a tendon. Some of the places where tendinitis is likely to occur include the hip, Achilles tendon, shoulder, knee, elbow and base of the thumb.
Tendinitis of the shoulder very often causes adhesive capsulitis or frozen shoulder, wherein the individual experiences loss of movement in the shoulder.
Although anyone can get Tendinitis, it is more commonly seen in adults who are over the age of 40. This is because the tendons tend to become less elastic as they age and are then less tolerable to stress and more prone to tearing.
Preventing Tendinitis
Tendinitis is best preventing by taking it slow in the beginning and gradually building up when participating in any physical activity. Using limited repetitions and limited pressure is also a significant preventive factor.
Treatment of Tendinitis
Resting the injured area along with application of ice pack on the day of the injury are the most effective initial treatments for Tendinitis. Anti-inflammatory medications should be taken if the pain and swelling are too severe.
A visit to the doctor is called for if the condition still continues unabated after a week. Some of the more advanced treatment methods for prolonged tendinitis include corticosteroid injections that help alleviate the inflammation and pain and physical therapy, which includes range of motion exercises. In severe cases surgery may be necessary when there is no sign of improvement despite the injections and physical therapy.
Recovery from Tendinitis could take a few weeks to several months, depending on the severity of the injury to the tendon.
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