The inflammatory process most frequently affects the shoulders, elbows, hands, wrists, knees and ankles.
Tendonitis often develops as a result of repeated stresses and degenerative alterations which, over the years, end up damaging the fibers that make up the tendon. Major traumas, postural vices, overweight, congenital situations (such as valgus or flat feet) and physical exercise that involves the abuse of particular joints and muscle groups (tennis players, dancers, etc.) can also contribute to the onset. The risk of developing tendonitis may also increase in the presence of systemic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, gout, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes, and during some drug therapies.
Tendonitis typically presents with pain on movement and palpation. Sometimes, if the inflammation extends to the tendon sheaths, a swelling of the inflamed tendon may be associated (as, for example, occurs in Achilles tendon enthesopathy), warmth to the touch and, rarely, redness of the overlying skin. also predispose to the formation of nodules (as happens, for example, in inflammation of the wrist tendons) and calcifications.
