Tendonitis and Tenosynovitis FAQ by a specialist Neurophysiopathologist.
What is a tendon ?
A structure that anchors a muscle to the skeleton and transmits the muscular contraction to the bone.
top What is tendonitis and tenosynovitis?
Tendonitis is an inflammation of a tendon while tenosynovitis is the inflammation of its covering sheath; both conditions normally occur simultaneously.
top What are the causes of tendonitis and tenosynovitis?
The causes are not always clear. Repeated and/or excessive movements are generally considered to be responsible. More rarely,
they may be secondary to systemic diseases such as goitre, kidney failure, etc.
top What are the symptoms of tendonitis and tenosynovitis?
Pain during movement is the main symptom; if the sheath is filled with fluid, there is swelling and it becomes impossible to make any movements.
top What are the most common forms of tendonitis and tenosynovitis?
The sites most affected are the articular capsule of the shoulder, the radial and ulnare flexor of the carpal, the flexor muscle in
the finger, the adductor longus tendon and extensor pollicis brevis, the Achilles tendon.
top Which are the work activities most risky for hand-wrist tendonitis?
Epidemiological studies have shown high risk in workers in the manufacturing industry, those in the meat sector, those who have been
continuing with the activity for a long time, the force used, and repetitivity of movements. The dimensions of the groove through
which the dorsal tendons of the hand and wrist run are reduced and the pressure resulting from repetitive work activity can lead
to inflammation of the tendon.
top What is the treatment for tendonitis and tenosynovitis?
Solving the problem will require a long time (months), and different treatments can be used: rest, staying still (splints, corsets)
infiltrations, physiotherapy, and more rarely surgical exploration.
