What Does
Tendinitis Mean?
Tendinitis is a medical condition in which the tendons become inflamed due to overuse or injury. Tendinitis can affect tendons in the shoulder, elbows, wrists, heels, and other joints.
Occupations that involve using a computer keyboard and mouse for several hours a day carry an additional risk of tendinitis. The use of ergonomic desks and devices can help prevent tendinitis and other disorders of the tendons or muscles.
Safeopedia Explains Tendinitis
Tendons are thick, flexible, cords of collagen fibers that attach muscles to bones. They can stretch and withstand tension, taking some of the strain off the muscles to which they're attached.
Excessive strain and activity can injure these tendons, resulting in inflammation, pain, and difficulty moving the joints.
Types of Tendinitis
Tendinitis can affect any tendon in the body but most commonly affects those of the shoulder, elbows, wrists, and heels. There are a number of types of tendinitis, such as:
- Achilles tendinitis – Affects the Achilles tendon, which connects the hell to the calf muscle and is involved in walking, running, and jumping
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) – Causes pain when the wrist is bent outward
- Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) – Causes pain when the wrist is bent inward
- Supraspinatus tendinitis – Inflammation of the shoulder joint, which causes pain when moving the arm and can lead to rotator cuff syndrome if other tendons in the area are affected
- De Quervain’s stenosing tenosynovitis – Inflammation of the sheath surrounding the tendons between the thumb and wrist, resulting in swelling
Occupations at Higher Risk of Tendinitis
Occupations that involve continuous repetitive motion with only slight variation place workers at higher risk of tendinitis. These occupations include:
- Construction workers
- Carpenters
- Assembly line workers
- Painters
- Hair dressers
- Desk jobs with extensive computer use, such as coding
- Professional athletes
Symptoms and Treatment
Symptoms of tendinitis include pain or a dull ache when the affected joint is moved, mild swelling, and tenderness.
Diagnosis is done by a doctor or other medical professional, who will perform a physical examination by pressing on different parts of the forearm muscles, wrists, hands, and fingers to check for tenderness and swelling. X-rays and an ultrasound may be required for confirmation and to rule out other possible issues.
Tendinitis can be treated by surgery. Less severe cases can be handled with non-surgical interventions like heat and ice, anti-inflammatory medication, braces, and physiotherapy.
Tendinitis can be prevented by:
- Avoiding activities that strain the tendons
- Taking frequent breaks to limit repetitive motion
- Organizing workstations to minimize stress on the tendons
- Using ergonomic furniture and desks to help the body keep a good posture
- Doing strength training to build muscle and make those muscles more resilient