A breakdown of tendon tissue caused by repeat motions or too much use.

Tendinosis is a breakdown of a protein called collagen in tendons. It's caused by tendon scarring and lack of healing after injury. This isn't the same as tendinitis, which is short-term irritation and swelling, called inflammation, of a tendon.

Symptoms include pain and swelling over the affected area. Activities that use the affected tendons likely will be painful.

Treatments may include not doing the activity that caused the injury and not using the tendon too much, called relative rest. Using ice, taking pain relievers available without a prescription and doing physical therapy also might help.