Tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon, usually experienced after an injury. Tendonitis injuries can be, and are most often, caused by over-use. Athletes experience tendonitis regularly, as their training and performance often cause injury or over-use of a tendon.
Tendons and ligaments are the strong bands of connective tissue that connect muscle and bone. Tendons don’t have as many blood vessels as muscles do, nor are they as stretchy as muscles. This makes them more prone to injury and slower to heal if they do become injured. Because of this, it is important to allow the tendons to rest between work, in order to heal and recover. Not permitting tendons to rest properly may result in an over-use injury and tendonitis.
Tendons are located at the end of muscles and attach the muscles to the nearby bones. The largest tendon in the body is the Achilles tendon, which attaches the calf muscle to the heel bone. In the knee, the patellar tendon connects the tibia to the patella or knee cap. When these tendons are injured or over-worked, they become inflamed and painful. This is the first indication that something is wrong and should be addressed. Too often, however, individuals will “push through” the pain and continue using the injured tendon. If left unattended, tendonitis will become a chronic condition called tendinosis and require a great deal more time and attention to heal.
Early treatment of tendonitis is vital in reducing downtime and getting back to regular activity. When first experiencing tendonitis symptoms, a person should immediately allow the affected tendon to rest. Ice can help reduce inflammation and over-the-counter medications can help with the pain. If permitted to rest soon after experiencing over-use or injury, the tendon should recover within a few days. However, the longer the injury is allowed to go on, the great time will be required for healing.
If you are experiencing pain and inflammation in your tendons in the knees, feet, or ankles that won’t go away after several days of rest and ice, you should be evaluated by a doctor.
Dr. Jeffery Kleis, of Costa Mesa, CA, has been treating the residents of Southern California for more than 25 years. Dr. Kleis ensures that he and his team remain on the cutting edge of tendonitis treatment. Dr. Kleis employs low-level laser and acoustic-wave therapies in his practice, as do many of the top athletic organizations in the world. These therapies have been proven to reduce healing time and get top athletes back in the game faster. Dr. Kleis believes everyone deserves the same level of treatment.
For an evaluation of your tendonitis symptoms, please call (714) 760-4944 today or schedule an appointment online.
Tendinitis or Tendonitis?
If you’re searching for tendonitis on the web, you’ll discover that the terms tendonitis and tendinitis are used interchangeably. Both terms refer to inflammation and pain in a tendon, as the result of injury or overuse. Both spellings and usages are correct, although tendinitis is the preferred spelling in medical publications. However, tendonitis is the most common spelling and usage among people who are not medical professionals.
Either way, you are correct in using either tendonitis or tendinitis to refer to injuries involving tendons that result in pain and inflammation of the tendon.
What is Tendinitis or Tendonitis?
Tendonitis is generally an overuse injury to the tendon. It can be caused by traumatic injuries, as well, especially in individuals who engage in sports activities. The most common cause of tendonitis, however, is a sudden increase in training, activity, or intensity. For someone who runs regularly, tendonitis may be brought on by a dramatic increase in the intensity of the training, such as uphill training, or a sudden jump in mileage. For more sedentary people, tendonitis may be brought on by any activity that is new and/or engaged in too quickly.
Tendonitis is the inflammation and pain brought on by over-use or injury. As soon as a person experiences tendon pain, they should immediately rest the tendon and take a significant break from the activity that caused the pain. Whether that break should be an hour or several days depends on the level of pain and injury. If a few hours rest restores the tendon to regular working order, then the normal activity can be resumed. Too often, however, active people will ignore the pain of tendonitis and continue the activity that is causing the condition. Over time, this can cause chronic pain and inflammation, known as tendinosis. Tendinosis can require more treatment and a longer healing time.
What causes tendonitis?
While tendonitis is most often caused by overuse, there are several risk factors that make it more likely to develop tendinitis. Age is one risk factor, as our tendons get less stretchy and more prone to injury as we age. Athletes are at greater risk for developing tendonitis, as well, as they are more prone to pushing their bodies past their natural limits.
The most common cause of tendonitis is a sudden increase in training, activity, or intensity. For someone who runs regularly, tendonitis may be brought on by a dramatic increase in the intensity of the training, such as uphill training, or a sudden jump in mileage. For more sedentary people, tendonitis may be brought on by any activity that is new and/or engaged in too quickly.
Is tendonitis the same as tendinosis?
Tendonitis and tendinosis are very similar. The primary difference between the two is time. Tendinitis is an acute condition, brought on by a sudden injury or over-use of the tendon. Tendonosis is chronic pain and inflammation of the tendon, brought on by repeated injury or over-use that hasn’t been allowed to heal. With tendinosis, there is often a lack of swelling and redness that may accompany tendonitis. The injury is present in tiny tears in the tendon, but no inflammation. Thus, the pain is very similar to tendonitis, but no inflammation.
Tendinosis is referred to by different terms, depending on the location in the body. Tennis elbow, jumpers knee, and Achilles tendinosis are all forms of tendinosis. Treatment for tendinosis generally involves physical therapy. Strengthening the muscles around the tendon to take the pressure off the tendon and allow it to heal. Occasionally surgery is required for treating tendinosis, especially if there is a rupture of the tendon.
Tendonitis Symptoms
The primary symptoms of tendonitis are:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Stiffness
Pain results from injury or overuse. The injury causes the tendon to become inflamed, which in turn makes the joint stiff and difficult to move.
When the symptoms of tendonitis are first noticed, a person should immediately take a break from the activity that caused the injury. This allows the tendon time to heal. Ice on the injured tendon and over the counter anti-inflammatory medications can assist in relieving inflammation and pain.
If rest and ice don’t relieve the symptoms of tendonitis within a week to ten days, you should be evaluated by a doctor.
Dr. Jeffery Kleis is a podiatrist in Costa Mesa specializing in the treatment of feet and ankles, including tendonitis. Dr. Kleis will perform a complete evaluation and recommend a course of treatment that will address the current injury and any underlying causes.
Dr. Kleis may prescribe treatment that includes pain medications, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, or orthotic devices. Dr. Kleis utilizes the EPAT acoustic wave treatment and low-level laser therapy for treating tendonitis. He is one of the only doctors in Southern California to offer both treatments. These treatments are used by many professional sports teams and have been clinically proven to be some of the most effective treatments for Achille's tendonitis. After utilizing the acoustic wave and laser treatment therapies, surgery is seldom required to treat tendonitis.
For evaluation of tendon pain, call Dr. Kleis at (714) 760- 4944 or book an appointment online.
Achilles Tendinitis
Pain in the heel or back of the foot could be caused by an injury to the Achilles tendon. The most common causes of Achilles' pain are Achilles tendonitis and Achilles tendinosis. Tendonitis is inflammation of the Achilles tendon, typically caused by a sudden increase in repeated activity. In older adults, Achilles' pain may occur when engaging in new-to-the-participant physical activities that might not otherwise cause injuries.
In runners, Achilles' pain is often brought on by a dramatic and sudden increase in mileage or intensity. As the Achilles tendon is used beyond its normal capabilities, the tendon becomes inflamed and irritated, resulting in Achilles' pain.
Achilles' pain can be treated at home with rest and ice. If the condition worsens or doesn’t improve within a few days, seek the advice of a doctor specializing in disorders of the foot and ankle. Dr. Kleis is a podiatrist in Costa Mesa. He has been providing specialized foot and ankle care to the residents of Orange County and Southern California for more than 25 years. Dr. Kleis is a leader in his field and can help get you back on your feet in no time. Dr. Kleis utilizes the EPAT acoustic wave treatment and low-level laser therapy for tendonitis. He is one of the only doctors in southern California to offer both treatments. These treatments are used by many professional sports teams and have been clinically proven to be some of the most effective treatments for Achille's tendonitis.
Tendonitis Treatment
Many times, Achilles tendonitis can be treated at home, under the care of a doctor. However, left untreated or in more serious cases, tendon tears may occur, requiring surgery. Achilles tendonitis can be diagnosed through a doctor's exam. Dr. Kleis may use X-rays to rule out other common injuries or ultrasound to visualize the soft tissues of the tendon.
Dr. Kleis may prescribe treatment that includes pain medications, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, or orthotic devices. Dr. Kleis utilizes the EPAT acoustic wave treatment and low-level laser therapy for treating Achilles tendonitis. He is one of the only doctors in Southern California to offer both treatments. These treatments are used by many professional sports teams and have been clinically proven to be some of the most effective treatments for Achille's tendonitis. After utilizing the acoustic wave and laser treatment therapies, surgery is seldom required to treat Achilles tendonitis.
Tendonitis Doctor
Dr. Kleis is a podiatrist in Costa Mesa with more than 25 years of experience treating disorders of the foot and ankle. Dr. Kleis utilizes the EPAT acoustic wave treatment and low-level laser therapy for tendonitis. He is one of the only doctors in southern California to offer both treatments. These treatments are used by many professional sports teams and have been clinically proven to be some of the most effective treatments for Achille's tendonitis. Surgery is rarely needed when these two treatments are used.