Tendinopathy
Tendinopathy refers to pain and structural change affecting a tendon, often due to overuse, degeneration, or chronic strain.
When to get help quickly: Urgent review is more important if there is a sudden snap, marked weakness, inability to use the limb properly, or rapid swelling suggesting a tendon rupture or more serious injury.
Common symptoms
Symptoms often include pain during movement or exercise, tenderness over the tendon, stiffness after rest, and reduced strength or performance in the affected area.
When imaging helps
Imaging helps when symptoms are persistent, the tendon may be torn, treatment is not helping, or doctors need to distinguish tendon disease from another soft-tissue problem.
What radiology does
Ultrasound and MRI can help show tendon thickening, tearing, inflammation around the tendon, or more advanced injury.
What usually happens next
Care usually includes activity modification, rehabilitation, pain management, and sometimes injections or surgery depending on severity.
Seen this on your report?
Your doctor or the radiologist who wrote it can tell you what it means for you.