What is Tendonitis?

The ending of the word “itis” is defined as inflammation. Therefore, tendonitis / tendinopathy is inflammation of a tendon, which connects muscles to bones.

Types of tendonitis

In the knee, the tendon that connects your quadriceps muscle to the tibia bone (patella tendon) can become inflamed. This thick tendon runs over the top of your kneecap and attaches to the tibia bone below. This patella tendon can often become inflamed due to abnormal joint movements, poor posture, and weakness of the surrounding musculature. This causes strain to the tendon resulting in pain during repetitive movement and especially with squatting or kneeling down. Other areas of tendonitis in the knee can occur such as the back, outside, or inside of the knee.

In the shoulder, common areas for tendonitis are in the rotator cuff tendons (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis) and bicep tendons. Pain can be felt deep in the shoulder or in the front of the shoulder. Pain is usually felt as a sharp, catching sensation with certain movements.

How physical therapy helps

Physical therapy is the first line of conservative treatment for tendonitis. Most tendonitis is due to underlying abnormal mechanics of movement, walking, and weakness. Our trained Homer Glen, Orland Park and Evergreen Park, IL physical therapists are experts in evaluating your movement to pinpoint the source of the trouble. Modalities may be used to alleviate pain and discomfort, while hands-on therapy improves joint mechanics and movement.

Finally, gentle strengthening exercises and joint coordination exercises help to restore stability to the affected area and prevent the re-occurrence of symptoms. To discover how we can help your tendonitis, request an appointment at GoodLife Physical Therapy in Homer Glen, Orland Park and Evergreen Park, IL today!