You're rushing to finish your three-mile run just before dark, so you hit the road without warming up. Ten minutes into your run, you feel a hot, searing pain in the back of your leg. It gets worse with each step. It's especially common among those who participate in repetitive motion sports such as running, swimming, and ball sports. Tendinitis affects the tendon, the tissue that connects muscle to bone.
Many people keep running or playing despite the pain.
If you have tendinitis, you can expect to wait three to four weeks before resuming your normal workout schedule. The affected joint must be pain-free to heal. Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or sodium naproxyn help reduce swelling. Ice packs can also help. Don't use heat on a swollen tendon, he emphasizes.