What is tendinitis?

The end of the muscle forms a long and thin band structure attached to the bone, which is the tendon. If the tendon is inflamed for various reasons, it is called tendinitis.

Symptoms

When acute inflammation occurs, the affected area will be painful. When you press hard on the affected area or tendon, the pain can get worse and the site even appears red, swollen and hot. When tendonitis becomes chronic, the inflamed tendon can scar and become sticky and stiff, making the affected area unable to move freely.

Causes

• Improper use of force: when intense activity or force exceeds the load of the tendon.
• Long-term and repeated use: such as finger tendon inflammation caused by using computer for an extended period of time.
• Trauma: it may cause inflammation of tendons when directly subjected to external impact and compression.
• Influence of other diseases: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis often have tendinitis.

Body parts prone to tendinitis

• Finger: such as trigger finger, stenosing tenosynovitis.
• Elbow: such as tennis elbow and golfer's elbow.
• Shoulder: the rotator cuff at the shoulder joint is also a site prone to tendinitis.
• Lower extremities: patella tendonitis in the knee, Achilles tendonitis in the heel.

Treatment

• Physical therapy: cold and hot compress, deep heat therapy, low energy laser, electric therapy, etc., can reduce swelling and pain, improve inflammation.
• Splint: fix the affected area and allow the tendon to rest.
• Exercise therapy: stretching exercises can improve the flexibility of tendons and avoid adhesion. Muscle strength training can strengthen muscle strength, so that the activity does not exceed the tendon load, avoid tendonitis recurrence.
• Local tendon massage: eliminates tendon adhesion.
• Drug therapy: oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or direct local injection of steroids.
• Surgical treatment: some patients, especially with adhesion, can consider surgery if the above treatments fails.

Tendonitis is often caused by overuse or misuse of the muscles, so the cause should be identified in addition to local treatment. Correct improper way of use to avoid recurrence.