So you’re walking out of the doctor’s office after weeks of pain in your elbow and the diagnosis was tendonitis. So what does that mean? What is tendonitis, how did you get it and how will you treat it? Here is all the information you need to know to be an expert on one of the most common injuries for active adults.
What is Tendonitis?
Tendonitis is an injury to a person’s tendon, where it becomes irritated and inflamed. The tendon typically swells because of an increased blood flow to the area. This increase in blood flow is the body’s attempt to protect the injury and begin the healing process. A tendon is a band of collagen fibers used to connect muscles to bone. Tendons are vital in the human …show more content…
Patellar tendonitis: The Patellar tendon is the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shinbone. This injury is most common among those who are very active, specifically those who compete in sports that require lots of jumping. This gives the injury the nickname “jumper’s knee.” This injury also is common among recreational runners, whose frequent running puts extensive stress on the knees.
Potential Complications:
Though tendonitis is not typically seen as severe if left untreated there can be complications that are much more problematic. First off, untreated tendonitis can become tendinosis. Tendinosis is a form of chronic tendonitis where there is degeneration of the tendon. This degeneration changes the physical structure of the tendon where it becomes noticeably weaker. Other than tendinosis, ruptures of the affected tendon are much more common if the injury is not treated. A rupture occurs when the injured tendon is under extreme stress and bursts. A ruptured tendon often requires a surgical procedure and long recovery time.
Conclusion:
Tendonitis is inflammation of a tendon that can be painful or cause weakness and instability. Those who are most susceptible are athletes and those over the age of 40. Though not typically a serious injury, without proper treatment, it can become a larger problem and develop into a problem that would require surgery to