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JOURNAL
OF
SPORTS SCIENCE &
MEDICINE
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Review article
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CURRENT OPINIONS ON TENDINOPATHY |
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Jean-François Kaux1  ,
Bénédicte Forthomme1, Caroline Le Goff2, Jean-Michel
Crielaard1 and Jean-Louis Croisier1 |
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1Physical Medicine Service and Department of Motility Sciences, and 2Department of Biomedical and Preclinical Sciences, University Hospital, University of Liege, Liège Belgium |
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© Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2011) 10, 238 - 253 |
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| ABSTRACT | |||
| Tendinopathy is characterized by pain in the tendon and impaired
performance sometimes associated with swelling of the tendon. Its diagnosis
is usually clinical but ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging can
refine the diagnosis. Tendinopathy is highly prevalent and is one of the
most frequently self reported musculoskeletal diseases in physical workers
and sports people. Nevertheless, it is very difficult to carry out general
epidemiologic studies on tendinopathy because of the varying sports cultures
and sports habits in different countries. The aetiology of tendinopathy
seems to be multi-factorial, involving intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
The role of inflammation is still debated but the absence of inflammatory
cells does not mean that inflammatory mediators are not implicated. Different
theories have been advanced to explain pain and chronicity mechanisms, but
these mechanisms remain largely unknown. "Conventional" treatments
are generally employed empirically to fight pain and inflammation but they
do not modify the histological structure of the tendon. However, these treatments
are not completely satisfactory and the recurrence of symptoms is common.
Currently, eccentric training remains the treatment of choice for tendinopathy,
even though some studies are contradictory. Moreover, many interesting new
treatments are now being developed to treat tendinopathy, but there is little
evidence to support their use in clinical practice. Key words: Aetiology, epidemiology, inflammation, tendinopathy, therapeutic advances, treatments. |
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