Tendinopathy, or previously referred to as tendonitis/osis, is an injury that causes a spectrum of changes to occur in a damaged or diseased tendon. This process can lead to pain and/or reduced function in activities of daily living or sporting activities. The risk factors for tendinopathy are multifactorial, but are most influenced by sport, occupation, and genetic factors. Sporting activities require increased amounts of force to be placed on a tendon, which requires increased loadability of the tendon.
The most common types of tendinopathy:
- Rotator Cuff
- Wrist and Forearm Flexor/Extensor Muscles
- Achilles Tendon
- Plantar Fascia
- Patellar/Quadricep Tendon
- Gluteal Tendon
- Tibialis Posterior
Currently, there is no single prevention consensus for preventing tendinopathy. Appropriate screening by a qualified medical practitioner, with regular testing and load programming is current best-practice for preventing tendon-related injuries.
Exercise regimens, or tendon loading programs, remain the most effective management for non-surgical tendinopathy treatment. Through a tailored loading-based program prescribed by a qualified medical practitioner (e.g. Physical Therapist), improvements in pain levels, function, sporting activities, and quality of life can occur.
Visit an FX Physical Therapy Clinic for a screen or consultation with our Doctors of Physical Therapy regarding any current, previous or preventative care for your tendons.
Source:Millar, N. L., Silbernagel, K. G., Thorborg, K., Kirwan, P. D., Galatz, L. M., Abrams, G. D., Murrell, G. A., McInnes, I. B., & Rodeo, S. A. (2021). Tendinopathy. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-020-00234-1
