Tendinitis and pain do not always correlate

Tendinitis, or inflammation of a tendon, can cause severe pain without significant physical damage or minimal pain despite visible injury. This discrepancy highlights the complexity of using pain as a sole indicator of a tendon's condition.

Experts explain the limitations of pain as a diagnostic tool

In a video shared on Instagram, physiotherapists Hervé Verwaerde and Valentin Copin emphasize that the intensity of pain does not reliably indicate the severity of a tendon injury. They argue that while pain is a signal to pay attention to, it should not be the only factor considered in assessing the condition of a tendon.

Pain is a signal, not a measure of injury severity

The experts explain that a tendon can be very painful without major anatomical damage, or it can have significant damage without much pain. This is because pain is influenced by many factors, including individual pain tolerance, the location of the injury, and how the body perceives and responds to damage.

Rotator cuff tears can be silent but serious

The physiotherapists use the example of rotator cuff tears at the shoulder, which can be severe but cause little pain in daily life. A 2022 study published in BMJ Open found that many older women had significant rotator cuff tears without being aware of them, underscoring the importance of professional evaluation beyond pain assessment.