Tendinitis Report

TENDINITIS

Tendonitis is an inflammation or irritation of a tendon. A tendon is any of the thick fibrous cords that attach the muscles to the bones. A sheath of tissue similar to the lining of joints usually surrounds tendons. The condition that causes pain and tenderness outside the joint is most common around the shoulders, elbows and knees. Tendonitis can also occur in the hips and the wrists.

The most common cause of tendonitis is injury or overworking yourself while working or playing. If tendonitis is severe and leads to the rupture of a tendon, it may need surgical repair. This is almost always common if the rupture is in the Achilles tendon, which is located just above the heel. However, in many cases, medication and rest will reduce the pain and inflammation. This may be the only treatment you need. You can also prevent yourself from getting tendonitis or keeping it from affecting normal range joints such as the shoulder.

The Achilles' tendon. PD image from Gray's Anatomy...

The mucous sheaths of the tendons around the ankle...

The mucous sheaths of the tendons around the ankle...

The signs and symptoms of tendonitis are obvious and painful. Tendonitis produces pain, tenderness, and stiffness near a joint and is aggravated by movement. For example, the tennis elbow causes pain on the outer side of your forearm near your elbow when you rotate your forearm or grip, involving your wrist. Achilles tendonitis causes pain just above your heel. Adductor tendonitis leads to pain in the groin, patellar tendonitis causes pain just below the kneecap and biceps tendonitis leads to shoulder pain. If the tendon sheath becomes scarred and narrowed, it may cause locking of the tendon, such as in trigger finger. The pain of tendonitis is usually worse with activities that use the muscle that is attached to the involved tendon.

The causes of tendonitis can be from overuse, injury, or aging. The pain is most commonly the...