What causes tendonitis?
Tendons are strong cords of tissue that connect muscles to bones. When a muscle contracts, it pulls on the tendon, and that makes your bones move. As a result, tendons stand up to significant stress and commonly become inflamed. That’s when you have tendonitis.
Tendonitis most often develops when you:
- Strain the tendon
- Perform repetitive movements
- Engage in excessive training
- Develop an inflammatory condition
- Develop calcium deposits on the tendon
- Increase the duration or intensity of your exercise routine
In the early stages of tendon irritation and inflammation, the problem usually heals — as long as you rest the muscle and give it time to heal. When tendonitis doesn’t heal, the ongoing inflammation weakens the tissues and increases your risk of tearing the tendon.
What type of tendonitis might I develop?
Many types of tendonitis carry a name reflecting an activity that commonly stresses the tendon. A few examples include:
- Golfer’s elbow
- Tennis elbow
- Swimmer’s shoulder
- Jumper’s knee
- Rotator cuff tendonitis
- Achilles tendonitis
- Biceps tendonitis
- De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
Another common type is ankle tendonitis.
What symptoms develop if I have tendonitis?
The primary symptom of tendonitis is pain. In most cases, the pain gets worse when you move the muscle. You may also have tenderness along the tendon or notice some swelling.
Many people develop problems that seem unrelated to tendonitis. That happens because a weak tendon affects more than one localized joint or muscle. For example, tendonitis in your shoulder can interfere with wrist and hand movement.
How is tendonitis treated?
As long as you don’t have a significant tear in the tendon, tendonitis gradually improves with rest and gentle stretching exercises. However, your provider at Innovation Spine Medical can do more. They offer treatments that reduce inflammation and help your tendon heal faster.
After carefully evaluating your tendonitis, your provider may recommend treatments such as:
- Prolotherapy injections
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
- Steroid injections
- Chiropractic manipulation
- Massage therapy
- Physical therapy
- Acupuncture
As your inflammation diminishes and the pain eases, your provider develops a rehabilitation program that strengthens the muscles and tendons. They also help you prevent future tendonitis problems by recommending proper ergonomic form or ways to change your training regimen.
If you have pain when moving a muscle, call Innovation Spine Medical or book an appointment online today.
