Causes of tendonitis

Tendonitis

Tendons are straps of fibrous tissue which connect muscles to the bones. Tendonitis is inflammation of tendons. Each and every tendon in the body can get inflamed and affected by this condition. In majority of cases, tendonitis results as a consequence of overuse of the muscles and is related to the age.

Causes of Tendonitis

This medical condition is most commonly related to repetitive strain of the affected tendon. This type of tendonitis affects the elbow, biceps, shoulder and hand. Repetitive strain tendonitis is a condition which develops in people who are working in the factory, especially those who perform duties connected to production lines. Furthermore, athletes also may experience this type of tendon inflammation. This particularly refers to golfers and tennis players.

Another cause of tendonitis is the process of aging. In elderly people tendons lose their elasticity and become harder. This additionally affects the joint and reduces its mobility. The precise cause of tendonitis in elderly has not been established yet, but most doctors believe that it is related to changes of blood vessels which supply the affected tendons with blood.

Overstrenous activities, especially in certain sports such as bodybuilding, can also lead to tendonitis. The inflammation is a result of the inappropriate warm-up and excessive strain of the affected tendon. This type of tendonitis can be easily prevented if the person applies proper training techniques and exercises.

Injuries are another cause of tendonitis. A rotator cuff injury can cause shoulder tendonitis while knee surgery may be responsible for knee tendonitis.

Tendonitis can also develop in people who are already suffering from other medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Thermal injury can be another cause of tendonitis. This injury occurs during mounting or rock climbing and it affects hands and wrists, feet and ankles.

And finally, some people are predisposed to tendonitis due to anatomic abnormalities. Namely, if the tendon is not smooth enough it can easily get inflamed.

Some Examples of Tendonitis

Achilles tendonitis is inflammation of the Achilles tendon. This tendon is localizated between the calf muscle and the heel. Tendonitis is in this case caused by sports injuries and it can also develop in rheumatoid arthritis.

Suprastinatus tendonitis affects the tendon of the shoulder joint. The pain in this tendonitis intensifies during movements especially while lifting the arm.

Tennis and golfer's elbow tendonitis causes severe pain in the elbow which most commonly irradiates toward fingers.

De Quervain's stenosing tenosynovitis is inflammation of the thumbs tendons and it results in intensive pain in thumb during its movements.

And finally, trigger finger or trigger thumb is caused by tendonitis of the palm tendon.