Tendonitis Causes

Medically reviewed by:

Dr Dan Bunstone - Medical Officer

Updated: Aug 18, 2021

Next review: Aug 18, 2022

There are a number of different things that can cause tendonitis, which is inflammation of a tendon. Most commonly, repetitive movements or a sudden injury are to blame.

The heavily used joints of the knees, shoulders, elbows, hands and wrists are commonly be affected by the condition.

If you do a lot of the same high impact sports or have a job that involves a lot of repetitive movements, such as using a keyboard or heavy lifting, you are more likely to develop tendonitis.

Tendonitis can sometimes develop because of general wear and tear of the joint as you get older.

You may also develop tendonitis after a sudden injury to a tendon. If you play sports that involve sudden movements, like jumping or twisting, you are more at risk of injury.

In rarer cases, tendonitis can be caused by:

Infection
Other medical conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis

Dr Dan Bunstone - Medical Officer

What causes tendonitis?

Repetitive movements

Sudden injury

Other causes of tendonitis