Tendinitis Specialist

What is tendinitis?

Tendinitis is any condition or injury that causes pain and irritation in the tendons. When the tendons, which connect muscle to bone, become inflamed, they can limit the range of motion in your joints and restrict your mobility. Tendinitis can appear nearly anywhere in your body, but it commonly affects the shoulders, elbows, knees, and heels.

What are the symptoms of tendinitis?

Tendinitis symptoms range from mild to severe, depending on the injury causing the inflammation. Common symptoms of tendinitis include:

• Dull ache when moving the affected limb
• Low range of motion
• Swelling
• Tenderness to the touch

Your symptoms will often depend on the area that’s affected. For example, if you have golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis), stiffness in the forearm and weakness in the wrists and hands are common. People with jumper’s knee (patellar tendinitis) are more likely to experience pain when running and walking.

What causes tendinitis?

A sudden injury, like a slip-and-fall, car accident, or sports injury, can cause tendinitis. However, the condition is far more likely to develop because of repetitive stress on the tendon over time. The most common risk factors for tendinitis include:

Occupation

Jobs that require standing on your feet all day, lifting heavy objects, and twisting into awkward positions, like an electrician or construction worker, can overstress the tendons in your major joints.

Activity

Certain sports require repetitive motions that can injure your tendons over time. Playing basketball, tennis, golf, baseball, and running commonly adds to the risk of developing tendinitis.

Age

Your tendons become more rigid and less flexible as you age, leaving them open to injury and damage.

Weight

Carrying excess weight can stress and strain the small tendons throughout your body, particularly those in your feet.

How is tendinitis treated?

The Rheumatology Associates team can recommend several treatments for tendinitis, including:

• Medication
• Injections
• Physical therapy
• Oasis Health supplements
• Rehabilitation exercises
• Bracing and splinting

A combination approach often works best when treating tendinitis. These combo treatments target your pain and address the underlying cause. To learn more, call Rheumatology Associates in North Hollywood, California, today or schedule an appointment online.