What is it?

Tendons are thick bands that connect muscles to bone.   When they get irritated and suffer from small microscopic tears it is called tendonitis.    It can also be called tendinitis or tendonopathy.  The latter is the most correct, as recent studies indicated there is often not inflammation, particularly if the tendonitis has been there for more than a couple of weeks. 

​Tendonitis is most commonly found in the shoulder, elbow (tennis elbow, golfers elbow), knee and ankle.   Initial complaints include pain and weakness with movement, then subsides with rest.   If we continue to irritated the tendon, the pain can progress to a constant ache that becomes sharp with movement.

What can be Done?

Initially some rest may be necessary to reduce the acute signs.   But this rest should be short term.  Tendons respond well to a specific type of strengthening called eccentric strengthening. 

Working with your therapist you can determine the right load that will help the tendon heal and not cause more irritation.  It is a skilled balancing act.   Modalities, such as shockwave and acupuncture can help to control the pain while the tendon heals.   Often, strengthening of the irritated muscles' co-workers, or agonists, will be helpful to reduce the load on the effected muscle. 

​If therapy does not work to resolve the pain, then medication including cortisone injections may be helpful.

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