The tendon pain you may be feeling in the elbow, knee, or other joints in the body is caused by a number of factors, including:
- Trauma Damage to the tendon from a hit, twist, or pull on the joint
- Repetitive motion Damage to the tendon from overuse in work, exercise, or activity
In each of these situations, the tendon tissue breaks down and eventually forms a scar. This scarred and damaged tendon will cause pain.
Damaged or scarred tendons cause pain and limit the range of motion, which will worsen over time if left untreated.
You may recognize a few of the common names for tendon pain
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer’s elbow
- Jumper’s knee
- Plantar fasciitis*
- Swimmer’s shoulder
- Achilles tendonitis
Eventually, scar tissue in the tendon will limit your ability to move the joint and do the activities that you need or like to do. If you don’t treat the damaged tendon, the pain in your joint will likely become worse over time.
*Related to soft tissue in the heel