To explain in a simpler term, tendonitis basically means inflammation of the tendon. Tendons are found throughout the body, and they are the connective elements that joins muscles to bones. For example, when you think of a draw bridge, the muscles are the motor or engine that cranks the bridge up. Tendons on the other hand are the cable wires that actually divert force to lift the bridge up. Tendons transfer a lot of of force and power from the muscles regularly. Like all things in our body, they are also subjected to wear and tear.
Development of Tendonitis
So how does tendons in our body get inflamed? Tendons usually get inflamed through various stress and trauma to it, and they can range as follows:
- Repetitive overuse/ wear and tear
- Contusion or hard impact
- Acute strain or pull
- Tendon Impingement with other body parts
As well these are common areas where you would develop tendonitis:
- Elbow region (Lateral or medial epicondylitis) also know as tennis and golfer’s elbow
- Shoulder region, rotator cuff tendonitis
- Knee Region, Patella tendonitis
- Ankle Region, Achillies tendonitis
Management of Tendonitis
It is important to understand the reason for developing tendonitis, in order to treat and manage tendonitis as best as possible. Acute trauma and stress are easily understood, but it is more of a mystery when the condition is developed through repetitive stress. For those that had developed through repetitive stress, emphasis should be on identifying the specific action of repetitive movement that creates this stress. For example, tennis elbow can stem from repetitive clicking of a button through the use of a mouse or keyboard.
Once we are able to identify the stress factor, we can work by either reducing or removing the stress on the tendon. For example, things like proper ergonomics of our workstation setup can reduce the load sent to the specific tendon. Use of certain braces can also reduce use or loading to various parts of our body. Lastly, activity modification such as taking breaks can aid in terms of reducing general load and stress. There is a great deal to understand each specific case of tendonitis, and it is best to properly consult a medical professionals for next steps as certain cases may warrant different interventions.