What Is Tendinitis?

A type of inflammation of the tendons (the connective tissues between your muscles and bones), tendinitis is a painful, nagging condition that can turn even simple movements into major challenges. ("Tendinitis" is sometimes spelled "tendonitis.")

• Achilles Tendinitis This affects the Achilles tendon, which connects your calf muscles to your heel bone.
• Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) This affects the outer side of the elbow.
• Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis) This affects the inner side of the elbow.
• Rotator Cuff Tendinitis This affects the shoulder capsule and related tendons.
• Jumper’s Knee (Patellar Tendinitis) This affects the tendon connecting the kneecap to the shinbone.
• De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis This affects the tendons along the thumb side of the wrist.

Common signs include:

• Pain in the tendon that worsens with movement

  [6]

• Tenderness along the tendon or joint
• Mild swelling or a lump at the site, which may be red or purple and warm to the touch
• A crackling or grating sensation when you move the tendon or joint
• Weakness in the joint
• Stiff joints that may be difficult to move, especially in the morning

  [5]

  [7]

Often, the specific cause of tendinitis is unknown, but factors that can increase your risk of tendinitis include:

• Older age — tendons lose elasticity with aging
• Jobs that involve repetitive motions, awkward positions, or intense, prolonged vibration, such as construction, gardening, and painting
• Physical activity and sports, especially those involving repetitive motions or impact with hard surfaces (like gym floors), such as tennis, golf, running, baseball, and basketball
• Sudden increase in activity level or training intensity

  [1]

• Poor posture or body movements while engaging in activities like aerobics, weight training, or painting

  [4]

• Poor body flexibility or cardiovascular health
• Too little recovery time after injury
• Inadequate warm-up before exercise
• Muscle imbalances

  [8]

• Smoking, which reduces oxygen delivery to tendons

  [9]

• Medications, including statins, corticosteroids, and antibiotics like fluoroquinolones

  [10]

• Health conditions including diabetes, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, and infections (gonorrhea)

  [5]

• Pregnancy (specifically with tendinitis of the wrist)

Usually, a clinical exam is enough for diagnosis, but your provider may order other tests to confirm the diagnosis or rule out other causes of inflammation. These may include:

• Joint aspiration, which involves taking a small amount of fluid from a joint to check for gout or infections

  [6]

• Blood tests
• Ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate the extent of tendon damage
• X-rays to find other causes of inflammation, such as arthritis or bone spurs, or to confirm that you don’t have bone fractures, joint dislocations, or bone disease

• Rest the affected area, including avoiding activities that can aggravate the tendons.
• Apply ice packs to reduce swelling (three to four times a day for 20 minutes).

  [2]

• Use compression bandages, if necessary.
• Elevate the affected area whenever possible.

Medication Options

Medications can also help alleviate pain and inflammation, including:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), or aspirin
• Topical anti-inflammatory gels and pain-relieving creams, applied directly to the affected area

  [13]

• Antibiotics, if your tendinitis is caused by an infection
• Corticosteroid injections, which should only be used for short-term relief, if your pain is significant

Physical Therapy

Other Treatment Options

Surgery is rarely used for tendinitis, typically only in severe cases that do not respond to other treatments.

Strategies to reduce your risk of developing tendinitis include:

• Thoroughly warm up and stretch to loosen your muscles before intense activity.

  [4]

• Engage in cool-down exercises after intense activity to bring your blood pressure and heart rate down to resting levels and reduce your chances of injury and muscle cramps.

  [17]

• Use proper posture, technique, and equipment for any exercise or activity.
• Gradually increase your workout intensity and activity levels.

  [5]

• Do not work or exercise through pain — listen to your body and take a break, using a cold compress to reduce inflammation, if necessary.

  [18]

• Cross-train to mix up your workouts and avoid repetitive strain.

  [19]

• Take breaks at work, especially if your job involves repetitive motion.
• Maintain flexibility and strength, as balanced muscles protect tendons from overload.

If you have chronic tendon pain or are prone to flare-ups, a few lifestyle adjustments can make a big difference:

• Incorporate regular stretching and mobility exercises into your routine.
• Correct muscle imbalances and flexibility issues with targeted exercises.

  [9]

• Prioritize ergonomics by adjusting your workspace, chair, etc. to reduce strain.
• Maintain a healthy weight for your body.
• Watch your cholesterol levels — elevated cholesterol levels have been associated with tendon injury.

  [20]

  [21]

• Eat a nutrient-rich, anti-inflammatory diet (like the Mediterranean diet) that is low in saturated fats and sugar and high in leafy greens, nuts, fruits, and whole grains.
• Avoid smoking.

If left untreated or repeatedly aggravated, tendinitis can lead to:

• Chronic tendinitis
• Reduced mobility and range of motion
• Tendinosis (degenerative tendon changes without inflammation)

  [22]

• Tendon rupture
• Muscle weakness

• There are some six to seven million new cases of tendinitis worldwide each year.

  [23]

• Achilles tendon injuries may account for 20 percent of all tendon injuries.

  [9]

• Achilles tendinitis is usually caused by overuse and accounts for 15 percent of all running-related injuries.

  [2]

• Tennis elbow affects 40 to 50 percent of adult athletes who play racquet sports.
• Jumper’s knee affects between 2.5 and 14.4 percent of non-elite athletes in different sports.

  [24]

• Tendinosis
• Tenosynovitis, inflammation of the tendon sheath (the protective outer covering of the tendon that produces synovial fluid, which helps with lubrication)
• Bursitis, inflammation of fluid-filled sacs that cushion joints
• Tendon rupture

• Tendinitis is inflammation of a tendon, typically caused by overuse or overload.
• Most cases heal with self-care and physical therapy within weeks to months.
• Ignoring symptoms can lead to chronic tendon degeneration or tendon rupture.
• Preventive care — good technique and posture when engaging in physical activities, warm-up and cool-down exercises, and rest — is key.