Tendons are strong bands or cords of tissue that attach muscle to bone. They help move the bones and joints when muscles contract. Tendon injuries usually happen during sports or activities that involve sudden, sharp movements, such as throwing or jumping, or after repeated overuse of the tendons, such as running.

Tendon injuries can affect many different parts of the body. Commonly affected areas include the shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, fingers and backs of the heels.

The main types of tendon injury are:

• Tendonitis – inflammation of a tendon
• Tendinopathy – the gradual deterioration of a tendon
• Tenosynovitis – inflammation of the protective sheath that surrounds a tendon
• Tendon rupture – a sudden tear in a tendon