Chronic tendonitis (also spelled tendinitis) occurs when a tendon near a joint becomes inflamed, usually due to repetitive overuse. The condition typically affects the shoulder, elbow, knee, ankle and foot areas, as these are the most active and stressed joints.

Close to 4 million people in the United States seek treatment each year for symptoms of tennis elbow alone! This one of the most common locations for chronic tendonitis, and is quite common among athletes. Swinging a golf club or a tennis racquet repetitively can wear on a person's tendons and cause them to become inflamed.

Until recently, treatment options for patients with chronic tendonitis have been limited to NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) and stretching exercises. However, this is changing due to new, more efficient treatment methods, such as ultrasound therapy. Ultrasound treatment is quickly becoming very popular for treating this problem, as results have been very positive. Patients using ultrasound therapy can expect amazing results as long as they (1) keep the injured area inactive throughout the healing process and (2) stick to the treatment properly until healing has completed.

A Personal Ultrasound Kit is great for treating tendonitis, as the patient can treat himself/herself continuously without delay, as well as receiving the same treatment they'd get if they went to a therapist for all their ultrasound treatments.

Patients with chronic tendonitis are instructed to avoid activities that aggravate the condition, as the tendon will not heal properly if it is constantly stressed through overuse. Occasionally, physicians have had to perform surgery or give corticosteroid injections to patients, but this is invasive, expensive, and should be a method of last resort.