What causes tendinitis? How does tendinitis occur?

Written by Sun Shu Jian
Orthopedics
Updated on April 23, 2025
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The cause of tenosynovitis is the repeated mechanical friction between the local tendon and tendon sheath, leading to chronic aseptic inflammatory changes. It is often related to repeated activity in the affected area. Excessive repetitive movement of the affected area causes local congestion, exudation, edema, and other inflammatory changes. The stimulation of inflammatory factors leads to local pain and discomfort. As the condition progresses, thickening of the tendon sheath causes the local tendon to move less smoothly within the sheath, thereby causing restricted local movement. Additionally, tenosynovitis in infants and young children is often considered to be caused by congenital factors.

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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
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How to apply heat to tendinitis

Patients with tenosynovitis can use heat application to improve symptoms and promote recovery. Heat can be applied with a hot towel or a hot water bottle to the affected area for about 10 to 20 minutes at a time, and can be done several times a day. Caution should be taken to avoid burns during heat application. Heat helps promote blood circulation and can play a role in alleviating symptoms of tenosynovitis and aiding in recovery. Additionally, patients with tenosynovitis need to rest and can also use anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications and medications that invigorate the blood and disperse stasis. Treatment can be combined with physical therapy and encapsulation techniques. These methods can be effective in improving symptoms and promoting recovery. When motor impairments occur, surgical treatment may also be necessary. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
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How to treat tenosynovitis?

Tenosynovitis is mainly caused by prolonged engagement in certain activities, leading to frequent tendon movements within the tendon sheath, which in turn causes inflammatory damage, resulting in swelling, pain, and restricted movement of the tendon and sheath. For the treatment of tenosynovitis, it is important to first rest and stop engaging in the frequent activity. When symptoms occur, anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications, heat applications, physiotherapy, and local injections can be used for treatment. These methods can play an active role in improving symptoms and reducing inflammatory responses. If conservative treatment is ineffective, or if there is a functional impairment, surgical methods can also be considered for treatment.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Is tenosynovitis easy to treat?

Tendon sheath inflammation refers to the sterile inflammation of the tendon sheath surrounding a tendon, caused by repetitive activity and friction. This condition can impact tendon movement. In cases of early symptoms, conservative treatment such as rest and the topical application of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to alleviate symptoms. However, if the symptoms are severe and lead to constrictive tendonitis, where the movement of the tendon sheath is obstructed and there is a snapping sensation during movement, surgery may be necessary to remove the constricted tendon sheath and relieve symptoms.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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How should tenosynovitis be treated?

Tendon sheath inflammation refers to chronic aseptic inflammation caused by excessive and frequent flexing and extending motions during labor, where the tendon is subjected to repeated friction and compression within the fibrous tunnel of the tendon sheath. This results in local exudation, swelling, and fibrosis, leading to a narrowing of the sheath canal and hindering normal tendon movements. For mild symptoms of tendon sheath inflammation, treatment can include rest, immobilization, physical therapy, and topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications, as well as anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving plasters. If symptoms do not improve, local injection therapy may be employed. If symptoms persist and conservative treatment is ineffective, surgical removal of the narrowed tendon sheath may be necessary. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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Tendinitis, cold compress or hot compress?

First of all, it must be affirmed that patients with tenosynovitis need to actively apply heat. The condition known as tenosynovitis is mainly caused by local excessive irritation and friction, leading to the proliferation of connective tissue and resulting in aseptic inflammation. Therefore, active heat application is necessary. The main purpose of heat application is to promote local blood circulation and the absorption of inflammatory exudates, which can effectively alleviate the clinical symptoms of the patient's tenosynovitis. Additionally, patients with tenosynovitis need to actively rest and protect the affected area. For those with severe pain, local injection treatment can also be considered.