Tendons connect muscle to bone and help move joints. Tendinopathy is an injury to the tendon. These injuries tend to occur in tendons near joints such as knee, shoulder, and ankle. The injuries can include:
The following tendons are often involved:
Tendinopathy is caused by overuse of a muscle-tendon unit. The strain on the tendon causes very tiny tears that accumulate over time. These tears cause pain and can eventually change the structure of the tendon.
Overuse can be the result of doing any activity too much, such as:
Factors that increase your chance of tendinopathy include:
Symptoms include:
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. Your doctor will ask about your activity and the location of the pain.
In the majority of cases your doctor will make a diagnosis based on the exam and history. If your symptoms are severe your doctor may order:
Treatment depends on:
Treatment may include:
If inflammation (tendinitis) is suspected, your doctor may recommend:
To prevent tendinopathy:
RESOURCES:
American Academy of Family Physicians
http://www.aafp.org/
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
http://www.sportsmed.org/tabs/Index.aspx
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Orthopaedic Association
http://www.coa-aco.org/
Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
http://www.canorth.org/
References:
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine website. Available at: http://www.sportsmed.org/tabs/Index.aspx .
Patellar tendinopathy. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Updated June 2008. Accessed May 11, 2009.
Human Tendons . Human Kinetics; 1997.
Last reviewed January 2010 by Robert E. Leach, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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