Tendon Problems
Pain and dysfunction in a tendon, commonly the Achilles, rotator cuff or elbow tendons.
Last revised
Key takeaways
- Main treatment: progressive loading exercise
- Timescale: months rather than weeks
- Most useful single change: Load the tendon progressively under guidance rather than resting it.
- Commonest mistake: Complete rest, which weakens the tendon.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to get help" below apply to you.
Why it matters
Tendons respond to progressive loading rather than rest, which is the opposite of what most people do.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Main treatment | progressive loading exercise |
| Timescale | months rather than weeks |
| Rest alone | weakens the tendon further |
| Steroid injection | short-term relief; may worsen long-term outcome in some tendons |
| Common contributor | a sudden increase in training load |
What helps
- Load the tendon progressively under guidance rather than resting it
- Expect improvement over months and keep going
- Reduce but do not stop activity while rehabilitating
- Address the training error that caused it
What to avoid
- Complete rest, which weakens the tendon
- Repeated steroid injections without specialist advice
- Returning to full load as soon as pain settles
Where to go next
- Tendon Problems: Separating Myth From Guidance
- The First Steps With Tendon Problems
- What the Guidance Really Says About Vitamin D and Bone
- Sports Injuries: What Published Guidance Supports
When to get help
Seek urgent assessment for a sudden sharp pain with a pop or snap, an inability to push off or raise the arm, or a visible gap in the tendon — these suggest a rupture. Fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin raise tendon rupture risk: stop and seek advice for new tendon pain while taking them.
Where this comes from
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.