Tendinitis is an inflammation or irritation of a tendon; this is the thick fibrous cords that attach muscle to bone. This condition can cause pain and tenderness just outside a joint.
 
Tendinitis can occur in any of your tendons, it’s most common around your shoulders, wrists, elbows, knees, and heels.

Some of the common names for tendinitis problems are:

• Tennis elbow
• Golfer’s elbow
• Pitcher’s shoulder
• Swimmer’s shoulder
• Jumper’s knee

Most cases of tendinitis can be successfully treated with physical therapy, rest, and medications to reduce pain. If tendinitis starts to get severe and leads to the rupture of a tendon, you may need surgery.

The cause of tendonitis is often not known, it could be caused by strain, overuse, injury, or too much exercise. Tendonitis may be related to other diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or infection.
 
Although tendinitis can be caused by a sudden injury, the condition is much more likely to come from the repetition of a particular movement over a long period of time. Most people will develop tendinitis because of their jobs or hobbies that involve repetitive motions, which puts stress on the tendons.
 
Using the proper technique is very important when performing any repetitive sports, movements, or job-related activities. Improper technique can overload the tendon which may occur, with tennis elbow and lead to tendinitis.

Anyone can get tendonitis, but 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

Other risk factors for tendinitis include:

• Poor posture at work or home
• Having 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 you age and the tendons age, they tolerate less stress, are less elastic, and tear more easily

Medications that can cause tendons to tear. These medications can include:

• Fluoroquinolone antibiotics
• Statins (drugs that lower cholesterol)

Tendinitis can occur in almost any area of your 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

Most of the time, tendonitis will develop as a result of the repetitive, minor impact on an affected area. Activities such as gardening, shoveling, painting, scrubbing, carpentry work, tennis, golfing, or skiing all involve repetitive motion and impact. Tendonitis can be triggered by poor postures such as at home or work, or by failing to condition your body before exercising.
 
There are other factors that may lead to tendonitis, these include abnormal bone or joint placement, an infection, adverse medication reactions, or stresses brought on by other conditions such as gout, thyroid disorders, or rheumatoid arthritis.
 
Anyone can get tendonitis, but it is much more common in older adults. This is because as we age, our tendons are less elastic and less tolerant to stress, and can tire and become damaged more easily. If you feel you have tendinitis reach out to the experts here at The Orthopedic Group. We serve patients from Leesburg VA, Lansdowne VA, Stone Springs VA, Dulles, VA, Ashburn VA, Sterling VA, Aldie VA, South Riding VA, Herndon VA, Winchester VA, Reston VA, and Chantilly VA.