Elbow Tendinitis

What's Tendinitis?

Tendons are located at the end of your muscles and connect your muscles to your bones. A tendon inflammation or 'Tendinitis' usually occurs in the ankle, wrist, shoulder, thumb, elbow and/or knee. When you're suffering from elbow tendinitis, you can point out exactly where you're feeling the pain.

Causes

Elbow tendinitis can be caused by the following situations:

External injuries

Elbow tendinitis can be sustained by an external injury or overusage of the elbow tendon. For example, by continuously repeating a certain move. Or by pressuring a muscle too much because of sporting too fanatically. Elbow tendinitis is often a result and part of RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury).

Internal factors

Especially in people over 40, unstable joints or osteoporosis (osteoporosis) can also play a role.

Tendinitis or Bursitis?

Tendinitis looks a lot like Bursitis. They are both caused by an injury or overusage of your muscles. In both cases, your tendon will start to swell and will get inflamed. The difference between tendinitis and bursitis is the type of pain: with bursitis, you feel a dull sort of pain. While pain caused by tendinitis is experienced as a very sharp and intense pain. The inflammations often occur simultaneously.

Symptoms

• Pain and a minor swelling in and/or around the elbow.
• The skin feels warm to the touch.
• Stiffness and limitation of movement of the elbow.
• Sometimes, you'll hear a crackling sound when moving the elbow.

Healing

Elbow tendinitis often heals very slowly, because the muscle to which the elbow tendon is connected moves constantly. Wearing an elbow brace can definitely offer a solution and relief.