What Is Tendinitis (Tendonitis)?

Tendinitis or tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon, which is a fibrous band of tissue that connects the bones to muscles. Tendonitis is a condition in which the tendon becomes inflamed or suffers a tear, causing acute pain, tenderness, and inflammation making it difficult to move the affected joint. The most commonly affected parts of the body are the elbow, wrist, finger, thigh, and ankle, etc. Tendinitis can occur more commonly among adults who play a lot of sports and occurs in any age group. Though older people are more susceptible because the tendons tend to become weaker with age. Some of the common Tendinitis that commonly occur in our body are:


 Achilles tendinitis: Achilles tendon lies between the heel and the calf muscle. Occurs most commonly in sports players. Usually caused due to improper footwear. It is mostly seen among patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

 Peroneal Tendonitis: Peroneal tendonitis affects the two tendons, one tendon attaches to the little toe, while the other runs along the sole and attaches to the inner side of the arch. If they can rub against the bone and overuse and load, symptoms are caused like pain and instability.

 

Posterior Tibial Tendonitis: Posterior Tibial Tendonitis affects the tendon that attaches the back of the shinbone to the foot. When it becomes inflamed, over time, this can result in flatfoot.

 

Supraspinatus tendinitis: Tendon around the shoulder joint becomes inflamed, causing supraspinatus tendinitis, which causes pain, especially during upward movement and becomes more painful while lying on the affected shoulder at night.

 

Tennis or golfer’s elbow:  Lateral epicondylitis also known as tennis elbow, the patient feels pain on the outer side of the elbow radiating down towards the wrist. Whereas in Golfer’s elbow or medial epicondylitis pain is on the inner side of the elbow, commonly occurring among Golfers. Pain is more acute when the patient tries to lift against a force, radiating down to the wrist.

 

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis: It is the inflammation of the sheath that surrounds the thumb and lies between the thumb and wrist.  It becomes painful to move the thumb due to the thickening of the sheath and swelling in the area.

 

Trigger finger or thumb: The tendon sheath in the palm is thickened and inflamed thus becomes fixed in a bent position and does not allow the tendon to move smoothly. Even sometimes a nodule forms along the tendon. The finger or thumb clicks when straightened.

 

Tendinitis of the wrist: Occurs most commonly in players like badminton players, tennis players, and workers, due to repeated use of the wrist.

 

 

Jumper's knee: It is a form of knee tendonitis, involving either the quadriceps tendon at the upper edge of the kneecap or the patellar tendon at the lower edge of the kneecap. Occurs especially in basketball players and distance runners due to overuse.