Tendonitis | Medtick
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Tendonitis

What is it?

Inflammation (hot red and swollen) of the muscle tendon and ligaments (tendons and ligaments are the fibrous connective tissue that connect your muscles to the bones together and bones to bones together).

  • You can treat mild tendon injuries yourself and should feel better within 2 to 3 weeks.

There are many types:

Affected area Possible types of tendonitis
Knees Patellar tendonitis (jumper’s knee)
Elbows Tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow
Shoulders Calcific tendonitis or supraspinatus tendonitis
Wrists and thumbs De Quervain’s disease
Heels Achilles tendonitis
Upper arm Biceps tendonitis

Diagnosis test

Please see your Medical Doctor If symptoms not improving after a week or one is in a lot of pain

Cause

  • Injury
  • Repetitive movement occupations i.e. builders, electricians, gardeners (using their knees, shoulders)
    Lifting
  • Doing the same sporty activities using the same muscles and joints
    I.e. Athletes, ball activities, (using their shoulders,wrists, knees,hips and ankles)
  • Those who do not warm up or exercise once in a while
  • Over use of achilles tendon
  • Flat feet
  • Poor fitting shoes
  • Poor healed shoes

Symptoms

  • Pain in a tendon (for example, in your elbow, shoulder, biceps, hip,wrist, knee, foot) which gets worse when you move the affected area (less than 30 minutes)?
  • Morning stiffness pain (less than 30 minutes)?
  • Dull aching pain?
  • Difficulty moving the tendon or affected area?
  • Feeling a grating or crackling sensation when you move the tendon?
  • Pain and swelling, sometimes with heat or redness?
  • Lump along the tendon or affected area?
  • Tearing or popping sensation if on joints?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

And/or do not wait, phone an ambulance if have or develop:

  • Rupture on any part of  ‘tendonitis’ areas:
    • Sudden and/or severe pain
    • A popping or snapping sound during injury
  • Achilles injury

General tips

  1. Rest – stop the exercise or activities that caused the injury until you feel better
  2. Ice – put an ice pack (you could use a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a teatowel) on the injury for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
  3. Compress – wrap a bandage around the injury to support it
  4. Elevate – if possible, keep the injured area raised on a pillow when sitting or lying down

To help prevent swelling during the first 2 to 3 days, try to avoid:

  • Heat, such as hot baths and heat packs
  • Alcohol
  • Massages

When you can move the injured area without pain stopping you, try to keep moving it so the tendon doesn’t become stiff.

Do

  • Warm up before exercising and stretch afterwards
  • Wear suitable shoes for exercise (if leg or foot affected)
  • Take regular breaks from repetitive exercises

Don’t

  • over-exercise tired muscles
  • start a new sport without some training or practice
  • stick to the same repetitive exercises

NHS.UK

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

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