ENLmedical.com: Conditions And Concerns: Medical Encyclopedia: Tendinitis

Tendinitis

Causes and Risks:
Tendinitis can occur as a result of injury, overuse, or with aging as the tendon loses some of its elasticity. It may also be involved in systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis . The injury could occur with any tendon, but some commonly affected sites are the shoulder, the wrist, the heel (Achilles tendon), and the elbow.

Prevention:

avoid repetitive motion and overuse of an extremity
warm up by exercising at a relaxed pace before vigorous activity

Symptoms:

joint pain and tenderness around a joint ( hip pain , knee pain , shoulder pain , elbow pain , wrist pain , or pain in other joints)
joint pain is aggravated by movement
joint pain is worse at night (usually)

Signs and Tests:
A physical examination shows tenderness or pain of the affected tendon.

Treatment:
The goal of treatment is to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.

Rest or immobilization of the affected tendons is helpful for recovery. This may be achieved using a splint, or a removable brace. The application of heat or cold to the affected area will reduce the pain and inflammation. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) relieve pain in addition to reducing inflammation.

After recovery, strengthening exercises for the muscles surrounding the affected tendon may prevent recurrence of the injury.

Prognosis:
Symptoms improve with treatment and rest. If the injury is caused by overuse, a change in work habits may be indicated to prevent recurrence of the problem.

Complications:

recurrence of tendinitis
calcifications occurring within the tendon

Call Your Healthcare Provider:
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms of tendinitis occur.