Tendinitis vs Tendinosis
Most tendon injuries fall into two categories: Tendinitis and tendinosis
Tendinitis and tendinosis are different types of tendon injury. Although tendinosis is often referred to as chronic tendinitis, understanding which condition is affecting you could impact your treatment and time to resolution, as each requires different treatment approaches.
Tendon injuries can result from a single incident or activities that involve repetitive motion, resulting in micro-tears within the collagen fibers of the tendon.
Healthy Tendon
A healthy tendon is made up of strong, flexible bands of connective tissue that transmit the energy needed to create movement from muscle to bone. Ligaments, such as the plantar fascia, have a similar structure and composition to tendons and can develop injuries similar to tendons.
Tendinitis
Tendinitis refers to an inflamed tendon usually resulting from an acute injury or strain on the tendon. The condition can result in pain and tenderness in the fibrous connective tissue outside of the joint between the muscle and the bone.
Tendinosis
Tendinosis refers to a tendon with a breakdown in its structure and disorganized collagen fibers. At this stage, tendons may retain fluid, develop calcifications, and, if left untreated, develop partial tears or even full-thickness tears with a risk of rupture.