What Are the Causes of Tendonitis?
Tendonitis is a condition where a tendon--a tough cord that connects a muscle to a bone--becomes inflamed, resulting in soreness and pain. Tendonitis can occur in areas all over the body, such as the elbows, shoulders, hips and ankles. Tendonitis can be caused by many different underlying factors that lead to tendon and tissue inflammation.
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Repetitive Stress
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Repetitive stress to a muscle, tendon or joint can lead to inflammation that causes tendonitis. Since athletes often partake in repetitive physical activities such as running long distances and moving the arms, they tend to be at risk for tendonitis. Certain types of tendonitis are associated with certain sports--for instance, tennis elbow is a type of tendonitis that commonly occurs among tennis players. Tendonitis in the Achilles tendon is common for runners who repeatedly strike their feet on hard surfaces, while tendonitis of the knees is common among those who change direction constantly. People who perform manual labor are also at risk for tendonitis.
Injury
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Acute injuries are another potential cause of tendonitis. When you strain a muscle, sprain a joint or incur a blunt trauma to the body, it can result in swelling and inflammation around tendons that can lead to tendonitis. Tendon strains are especially problematic, because they weaken tendons, making it easier to irritate them if they are used before they are fully recovered. It is important to properly rest and rehabilitate an injury to avoid chronic pains like tendonitis.
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Improper Equipment and Form
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Using improper equipment or form when performing exercise and athletic activities can lead to tendonitis. For instance, wearing ill-fitting shoes or worn-out shoes when running long distances can cause poor alignment of the joints and lead to inflammation in the hips, knees, ankles or feet. Also, performing activities in ways that increase impact, such as taking very long strides that land heavily on the heels, can increase the chances of tendonitis. Learning how to perform activities in an ergonomic manner with equipment that fits your body is important to prevent tendonitis.
Inflammatory Diseases
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Certain inflammatory diseases can irritate the tissues around tendons and lead to tendonitis. One common inflammatory disease is rheumatoid arthritis. Diabetes may also contribute to the development of tendonitis. If a disease does lead to inflammation and tendinitis, treating the disease may also serve to alleviate the tendon irritation.
Age
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Age is one of the primary risk factors for developing tendonitis. As people age, their tendons become less flexible, muscles weaken and joints become stiffer. This increases the chances of muscle pulls, since limber tendons are able to resist hyper extension and strong muscle are able to keep tendons and joints more stable. The older one is, the more likely tendonitis is to occur from moderate or even light physical exertion. Doing daily stretching and strengthening exercises may help reduce the impact of tendonitis.
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