What Is Tendonitis? What Causes Tendonitis?

Tendonitis means "Inflammation of a Tendon." There are a variety of common lay terms for this condition including: Pitcher's shoulder, Golfer's elbow, Tennis elbow and Swimmer's elbow to name a few. Tendonitis, also known as tendinitis, refers to the inflammation of a tendon. This condition is a type of tendinopathy, a disease of the tendon. Tendinosis is a similar condition to tendinitis, although, it requires different treatment. Tendinitis refers to larger scale sudden and short term or acute injuries with inflammation. Most of the time, tendinitis is noted by the body part that is involved. For instance, patellar tendinitis affects the patellar tendon or jumper's knee and Achilles tendinitis affects the Achilles tendon. It is possible for tendinitis to occur in a variety of other parts of the body including the thigh, wrist, finger or elbow. This condition is caused by injuring the tendon or overusing it, which may happen when sports are involved. People of all ages may experience tendonitis; however, it is more common among adults who play a lot of sports. Some elderly individuals are susceptible to tendonitis since their tendons may lose their elasticity and for some people, become weaker as they age. What are Tendons? A tendon is a specialized tissue that attaches muscle to bone. It is fibrous, tough and flexible and is capable of withstanding tension. A ligament extends from bone to bone at a joint, while a tendon extends from muscle to bone. Muscles and tendons work together and can only exert a pulling force. Even though ligaments and tendons are fibrous and tough, they are referred to as soft tissue, due to their common comparison to cartilage or bone. The word tendon is derived from the Greek word "teinein" and the Latin word "tendere" which translate to "stretch." Tendonitis or inflamed tendons are more likely to become ruptured. Tenosynovitis refers to a condition where the sheath around the tendon becomes inflamed, as opposed to the tendon itself. Some individuals suffer simultaneously from tenosynovitis and tendonitis. What are the Signs and Symptoms of Tendinitis? A sign is something other than the patient feels and the doctor detects, where a symptom is something that the patient experiences and reports. For instance, a rash may be a sign, where pain may be a symptom. Tendonitis symptoms and signs typically occur where the tendon attaches to a bone and usually include: Swelling in the affected area, which may also appear red and hot; Pain if the affected area is moved, the pain gets worse and the feeling that the tendon is grating or crackling as it moves. This sensation is quite common upon examination. As well, it is common for a lump to develop along the tendon. If there happens to be a rupture gap, it may be felt in the line of the tendon and difficulty will be experienced with any movement. What are the Causes of Tendinitis? Tendonitis is a condition that is commonly caused by repetition of a certain movement over a period of time. It may also be caused by a sudden injury. In most cases, tendonitis develops in people whose hobbies or jobs involve repetitive movements and the tendons become aggravated.