Risk Factors for Developing Tendonitis

Tendons are the tough fibrous bands that connect your muscles to your bones. Although they are strong, tendons have less elastic tissue and are therefore not designed to stretch at all.  This limited elasticity is what makes them susceptible to injury.

Repetitive strain, overuse, and overstretching can cause a tendon to get inflamed, resulting in a condition referred to as tendonitis. The heels, knees, shoulders, elbows, and wrists are the most common sites for tendonitis.

There are a number of factors that can increase your risk of developing tendonitis. These include the ones listed below.

Sports

Some types of tendonitis, including golfer’s elbow, tennis elbow, and jumper’s knee, are especially common in people who engage in high-intensity sports or those that involve frequent, repetitive movement, such as baseball, basketball, tennis, and running. However, you may also be at a greater risk of sustaining tendonitis in the following circumstances:

• If you have poor technique or posture when playing sport
• If you wear shoes that do not provide adequate support
• If you fail to warm up properly before playing
• If you overexercise tired muscles.
• If you do not take regular breaks from sports that involve repetitive motions

Occupation

There are certain occupations that can put you at a greater risk of developing tendonitis, such as those that involve tasks that entail:

• Doing repetitive movements
• Regularly reaching overhead
• Awkward positions
• Using handheld vibrating tools (hammer drills, chainsaws, impact wrenches, etc.)
• Forceful exertion (heavy lifting, pulling, and pushing)

Age

Age is one of the risk factors for tendonitis because it contributes to the decline in the number of tenoblasts (the spindle-shaped immature tendon cells that lie between collagen fibers) and tenoblastic activity. Structurally, the collagen fibers become wider and tougher with increasing age, resulting in the dwindling of the overall tensile strength.

Another logical explanation is that when people age, their muscles lose mass and begin to shrink, and the water content of their tendons also decreases, leading to stiffer tissues that are less able to withstand stress.

Certain Diseases

Diseases that weaken muscles or cause inflammation are also a risk factor for tendonitis. These include the following:

• Arthritis (Gout)
• Autoimmune disorders of the connective tissue (Myositis, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic sclerosis)
• Kidney diseases

Tendonitis Treatment in Palm Beach County, Florida

If you have symptoms of tendonitis, schedule a consultation with us at Personalized Orthopedics of the Palm Beaches.

Our board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons offer high-quality, comprehensive treatment for a wide variety of injuries and conditions that affect the shoulder, hip knee, neck, and spine. We will work to guide you through every step of your care, from evaluation and diagnosis, through treatment and physical therapy. Our goal is to make sure you will safely and quickly return to doing the things you love to do.

If you would like to find out more about our orthopedic services or to make an appointment with one of our orthopedic surgeons, call our office today, or you may use our online appointment request form.