Tendinitis
What is tendinitis?
Tendinitis (or tendonitis) is an inflammation or irritation of a tendon. Tendons are pieces of connective tissue between muscles and bones. Tendinitis can be either acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) in nature.
Who gets tendinitis?
Anyone can get tendinitis. However, it's more common in those who do repetitive activities. Some of these activities include:
- Gardening/landscaping.
- Woodworking.
- Shoveling.
- Painting.
- Scrubbing.
- Tennis, golf, skiing, baseball (throwing and pitching).
Other risk factors for tendinitis include:
- Poor posture at work or home.
- Presence of certain diseases that can weaken muscles. These diseases can include:
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Gout/pseudogout.
- Blood or kidney diseases.
- Adults 40 years of age and older. As tendons age, they tolerate less stress, are less elastic and tear more easily.
- Medications (rare occurrence) that can cause tendons to tear. These medications can include:
- Fluoroquinolone antibiotics (such as ciprofloxacin [Cipro®] and norfloxacin [Noroxin®]).
- Statins (drugs that lower cholesterol).
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:
- Base of the thumb.
- Elbow.
- Shoulder.
- Hip.
- Knee.
- Achilles tendon (connects the calf muscles to the heel bone).
What causes tendinitis?
Tendinitis most often is caused by repetitive, minor impact on the affected area, or from a sudden, more serious injury.
What are the symptoms of tendinitis?
One of the main symptoms of tendinitis is pain at the site of the tendon and surrounding area. Pain may be a gradual buildup or sudden and severe, especially if calcium deposits are present.