What Is Tendonitis and How Long Does It Last?
If you’re active in sports, exercise, or physical labor of any kind, you have probably experienced aches and pains in and around your joints. The musculoskeletal system — muscles, bones, and their supporting tissues — is at risk for injury when we overdo it with activities, especially repetitive ones. One common example of this is tendonitis.
What Are Tendons?
Tendons are tough bands of fibrous connective tissues that attach bones to muscles. Like ligaments (which connect bones to other bones), tendons are composed mainly of collagen.
There are over 400 tendons in the human body. Four of the most prominent ones are:
- Quadriceps tendons, including the patellar tendon, which help bend and straighten the knees
- Rotator cuff tendons which enable rotation and movement of the shoulders
- Biceps tendons which help bend the elbows and rotate the forearms
- Achilles tendons which help move your foot up and down or side to side
What is tendonitis?
Tendonitis is a term that refers to painful inflammation of a tendon, resulting in pain, swelling, and the loss of joint function. It is most often caused by repetitive motion injuries but may also be due to an infection or inflammatory disease. Tendon injuries can happen at any age, but it is more common the older we get. Some experts estimate that 2% of adults will have a lower extremity tendon problem in their lifetime.
Although we have hundreds of tendons in the body, those in the arms and legs near joints tend to be injured most. The tendons of the following muscles are commonly affected:
- Achilles (heel)
- Posterior tibialis (ankle)
- Patellar (knee)
- Gluteal muscles (hip)
- Wrist extensor tendons (also called tennis elbow)
- Rotator cuff (shoulder)
Causes of Tendonitis
The most common cause of tendonitis is a repetitive stress injury caused by the overuse of a tendon. These injuries are common with occupations involving manual labor or with athletes or musicians who use certain joints and muscles repetitively.
- Tennis elbow
- Jumper's knee
- Rotator cuff tendinitis
- Achilles tendonitis
Less commonly, tendonitis can be caused by conditions like:
- Infections
- Osteoarthritis (caused by stress placed on tendons by damaged joints)
- Gout (caused by deposits of uric acid crystals in joints)
- Diabetes (caused by whole-body inflammation spurred by high blood sugar)
Symptoms of Tendonitis
Tendonitis is characterized by inflammation, the body's natural response to injury, infection, or disease. Symptoms range from mild to severe and can either be acute (sudden) or chronic (persistent), depending on the underlying cause.
Symptoms of tendonitis include:
- Pain, worsening with exercise or specific movements
- Tenderness to the touch
- Swelling
- Loss of joint function
If severe or left untreated, tendonitis can worsen, causing a partial tear in the tendon or, in extreme cases, a complete rupture.
How Long Does Tendonitis Last?
With proper treatment, acute tendonitis caused by overuse will usually resolve within three months, although complete recovery can take up to six months before you can return to sports.
Even so, recurrence is common unless changes are made to how you use a joint. If changes are not made, an acute injury like tennis elbow will become chronic and may even lead to a tendon rupture.
Chronic tendonitis may require ongoing care to manage symptoms and prevent exacerbations (flare-ups). This includes treating or managing the underlying condition like gout or diabetes.
At-Home Treatment
The treatment of tendonitis is usually conservative. The first step is to treat the acute pain followed by a recovery program to regain joint function and prevent future injury.
Tendonitis is commonly treated at home with:
- Rest, including elevation of the injured joint to reduce swelling and pain
- Ice application to ease acute pain and swelling
- Compression bandages, braces, or crutches to support and protect the injured joint
- Topical pain-relief products such as Zanskar Advanced Pain Cream
Once the acute swelling and pain have eased, you will need to gradually incorporate exercises to rebuild strength and regain the range of motion of the injured joint. Download the Zanskar app for self paced program for Tendonitis.
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Medical Review: This article is written by Dr Nishtha Mittal (Senior Health Content Editor at Zanskar Health) and has been medically reviewed by the medical team at Zanskar Health. This article and its contents are provided for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or professional services specific to you or your medical condition.
