Tendonitis: Treatment and Conservative Management
In this post we'll walk through the treatment options for tendonitis, along with what you can do at home to support your own recovery.
A Note on the Name
You'll increasingly see the term "tendinopathy" instead of tendonitis, since the underlying problem is technically an injury to the tendon rather than true inflammation.
Causes
Tendon injuries develop from overuse, direct injury, or repetitive activity — often when someone pushes past their normal limits in daily activity.
Symptoms
Pain, stiffness, and swelling around the affected area that gets worse with movement, sometimes with heat or redness.
Who's at Risk
Athletes, along with anyone in a repetitive occupation — carpenters, musicians, data entry workers, painters, and welders are all common patients.
Conservative Treatment
Ice, heat, mobility work, and eccentric loading exercises are the core of treatment, aimed at maximizing function while keeping pain manageable.
When to Seek Care
If symptoms stick around for more than a week to ten days, it's worth being evaluated rather than waiting it out.