Extensor tendons connect muscle to bone in the hand and foot, and extensor tendonitis is commonly caused by overuse.
The most common cause is overuse of the muscles, bones, and tendons in the feet or hands.
In the feet, it’s most often caused by: spending a lot of time on the feet; wearing shoes that are too tight; using inappropriate footwear for a sport or activity. In the hands, the most common cause of extensor tendonitis is doing an activity that uses the hands and wrists in a repetitive motion such as: prolonged or high impact typing with a non-ergonomic keyboard; practicing or playing an instrument, such as piano or guitar, excessively; regularly playing sports that stress hands and wrists, including baseball or racquetball.
Symptoms and diagnosis
The most common symptom of extensor tendonitis, whether it occurs in the foot or the hand, is pain. In the feet, the pain is usually localized to the top of the foot, usually close to the center of the foot. In the hands, pain tends to occur on the top of the hand.
Other symptoms of extensor tendonitis include:
- redness, warmth or swelling near the injury
- increased discomfort with activity
- crepitus, which is a crunchy feeling or sound over the affected tendon
- stiffness of the joint
Diagnosing extensor tendonitis usually requires a physical exam and history with an osteopath. The doctor will ask questions about the pain and other symptoms.
Common questions are about whether anything makes the pain better or worse, the history of the symptoms, and if anything triggered the discomfort.
Sometimes, the doctor will order an X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test to get a detailed look at all the bones, muscles and tendons around the injury. These images can help the doctor look at the structures around the pain to see where the damage is and if there is another cause for the symptoms.
What are the treatments for extensor tendonitis?
Injuries to the hands and feet are common and usually resolve within a few days with basic care at home.
However, if the pain doesn’t start to improve after a couple of days, or a person experiences swelling, redness, warmth or other symptoms, they should visit their osteopath or doctor.
There is a range of treatment options available for extensor tendonitis.
Rest and relaxation
Resting the affected joint is crucial, especially if the tendonitis is caused by overuse. It is essential to stop the activity that is causing the pain until the tendon has healed, to prevent further injury. In less serious cases, rest may be all that is needed until the tendon has healed. – medicalnewstoday.com; Written by Nicole Galan; Reviewed by William Morrison, MD
