Tendon Injury (Tendinopathy): Symptoms

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Symptoms

Symptoms of tendinopathy can include:

• Pain, tenderness, redness, warmth, and/or swelling near the injured tendon. Pain may increase with activity. Symptoms of tendon injury may affect the precise area where the injured tendon is located or may radiate out from the joint area, unlike arthritis pain, which tends to be confined to the joint.
• Crepitus, or a crunchy sound or feeling when the tendon is used. This is usually uncomfortable or painful.
• Pain and stiffness that may be worse during the night or when getting up in the morning.
• Stiffness in the joint near the affected area. Movement or mild exercise of the joint usually reduces the stiffness. However, a tendon injury typically gets worse if the affected tendon is not allowed to rest and heal. Too much movement may worsen existing symptoms or bring the pain and stiffness back.

The joint areas most commonly affected by tendinopathy are the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle.

Sometimes tendon pain is caused by inflammation around calcium crystals in or around the tendon (calcific tendinitis). The cause of the deposits often isn't known. These crystal deposits can be quite painful and can become a chronic problem.¹

Symptoms of tendinopathy may be similar to those of inflammation of the bursa (bursitis). For more information, see the topic Bursitis.

Last updated:	December 20, 2006
Author:	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH
Reviewed By:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine, Nicola Maffulli, MD, PhD - Orthopedics
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC