Tendinitis

Tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of a tendon, Tendons transmit the forces of muscle to the skeleton. As such, they are subjected to repeated mechanical loads, which are felt to be a major causative factor in the development of tendinopathy. Pathologic findings include tendon inflammation, mucoid degeneration, and fibrinoid necrosis in tendons. Microtearing and proliferation of fibroblasts have also been reported. However, the exact pathogenesis of tendinopathy is unclear.

We identified a total of 27,702 patients with acute Achilles tendon ruptures between 2001 and 2012. In 2001, the sex-specific incidence of acute Achilles tendon ruptures was 47.0 (per 100,000 person-years) in men and 12.0 in women. In 2012, the corresponding values were 55.2 in men and 14.7 in women, with an increase of 17% in men and 22% in women. The proportion of surgically treated patients declined from 43% in 2001 to 28% in 2012 in men and from 34% in 2001 to 22% in 2012 in women.

Tendinitis may go away over time. If not, the doctor will recommend treatments to reduce pain and inflammation and preserve mobility to prevent disability and recurrence. He may provide a referral to a rheumatologist, an orthopaedic surgeon or a physical therapist for specialized treatment. When properly treated, most tendinitis conditions don’t result in permanent joint damage or disability.