How to tell that you may have tendonitis?

Tendonitis is acute inflammation (itis) of a tendon, or you could have tenosynovitis, which is an acute inflammation of the sheath surrounding the tendon. A tendon is a thick cord that attaches muscles to bones. Often people confuse tendons and ligaments, where ligaments attach bone to bone. To confirm if you have tendonitis, you will have to be examined by a practitioner, however, there are some signs that you can look out for.

Tendonitis commonly occurs due to overuse, repetitive movements, or strain on the tendon. Here are some signs and symptoms that may indicate tendonitis. I like to use the acronym SHARP:

Swelling: The tendons, tendon sheath, and/or the muscle that the tendon moves or the surrounding structures may be affected by swelling and appear ‘puffy’.

Heat: if you touch the affected area, it might feel warmer than a non-injured area of your body. Altered Function: Weakness, stiffness, or decreased range of motion in the affected joint.

Redness: When there is acute inflammation, oftentimes the skin begins to turn a bit red or rosey due to the increased circulation in the area.

Pain: Pain or tenderness in the area may be present when you move, or sometimes even at

rest. This can be a sharp or dull pain, usually in the affected tendon or muscle.

If you suspect you have tendonitis, it’s important to book an appointment with a healthcare professional, like an Athletic Therapist. An Athletic Therapist can evaluate your symptoms, movements, and injury history, and perform special tests to find the source and cause of pain. ATs
can also recommend strategies to help you in the healing process, and help make changes to your biomechanics and movement to prevent further injury, and then provide specific-to-you exercises to help you on your rehab journey!