Tendon pain from too much use is a common issue in sports activity. It happens when the cumulative load on the tendon is greater than what the tendon can take. There is two parts to this: the first will be the collective load which means simply how much activity is undertaken and just how frequently this is done. It is important that the tendon has time to get accustomed to those loads or the cumulative load might go beyond that. Which is the second part, just how adapted the tendon would be to those loads. Being familiar with these concepts is important in being familiar with and managing tendonitis.
For example, peroneal tendonitis which is an excessive use injury that occurs on the outside of the ankle joint. The cumulative load in this tendon is increased when activity amounts are too high or increased too quickly and not enough time is provided for the tendon to adjust to those high loads. The cumulative load can also be increased by the biomechanics of the feet. For instance, if the supination resistance of the foot is lower then the peroneal muscles on the outside of the leg will be required to work harder. That will place an greater strain on the peroneal tendons after which in addition to training errors that load might possibly exceed what the tendon can take and it develops tendonitis.
Based upon these concepts, peroneal tendonitis is treated by reduction of that collective load. That can mean exercising amounts and frequency has to be reduced somewhat to permit the tendon to adapt to the loads. The load in this disorder can also be decreased with foot orthotics that evert the foot, which means the peroneal muscles will not need to work so hard. Next the tendon should be given an opportunity to adapt to the loads. This means that exercising volume and frequency ought to be slowing increased, with plenty of rest between training loads to get the tendon to adapt to those loads.