Tendons are fibrous bands of tissues responsible for connecting a muscle to a bone. There are several names used in the description when the tendon tissues are damaged, injured or inflamed. These include tendinosis, tendonitis, tendon rupture, etc.
Tendinitis and tendinosis are a common sight in these areas, particularly:
- Rotator cuff tendons (shoulder)
- Achilles tendon (back of the heel)
- Tennis elbow
- Gluteal tendons (outside hip)
- Patellar tendon (connecting knee cap to shin bone)
Key Difference
The key difference lies in time. Tendinosis (“osis” is related to degeneration) is a chronic condition as a result of a repetitive injury or trauma which has not healed. Tendinitis (“itis” is related to inflammation), on the other hand, is an acute condition wherein inflammation is a result of a direct injury to a tendon. The difference also lies in their patterns and symptoms.
Tendinitis
- Inflammation of the tendon, resulting from micro-tears occurring as a consequence of the musculotendinous unit being overloaded acutely with a tensile force, which is either too sudden or too heavy.
- It is a very common diagnosis.
Tendinosis
- It is the degeneration of the collagen of tendons responding to chronic over utilisation. Upon being overused, with no time given to the tendon to rest and heal, repetitive strain injury gives rise to tendinosis.
- When repeatedly performed, even clicking a mouse can cause tendinosis.
- The degeneration includes alterations to the composition or structure of the tendon.
- Typically affects people who perform high-intensity activities, or are into sports that require continuous movement of tendons.
Difference Between Tendinitis and Tendinosis
Listed below are some key differences between Tendinitis and Tendinosis.
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Tendinitis |
Tendinosis |
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Inflammation |
|
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Inflammation is seen. |
No inflammation. |
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Inflammatory cells when viewed under a microscope |
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Present |
No evidence |
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Commonly affected sites |
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Wrist, Thumb, Elbow, Heel (Achilles tendinitis), Knee, Shoulder |
Hip, elbow, knee, shoulder and Achilles heel tendons |
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Cause |
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Due to overuse or injury or overuse, sports is a common cause. It can also occur with ageing as the tendon loses elasticity. Some body-wide (systemic) diseases can also be causative. |
Usually caused by overuse of the tendon, physical trauma. Some other causes – activities causing repeated stress on tendons, patients with joint conditions (arthritis). |
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Symptoms |
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Pain at night, tenderness along a tendon, mostly near a joint, stiffness in the morning, pain becomes adverse with activity or movement. |
Stiffness in joints, localized burning pain, swelling in tendons, pain which aggravates at the time of and after activity, restricted movement of joints, pain lasting for months. |
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Treatment |
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At-home treatments –
Other treatments –
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Recovery time |
|
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Upto 6 weeks |
Usually 3-6 months |
These were some differences between Tendinitis and Tendinosis. For more such articles, visit us at BYJU’S NEET.
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