Neurotrophins are substances that have been shown to be important in growth and remodelling phases in different types of tissue. There is no information concerning the possible occurrences of neurotrophins and their receptors in tendons. In this study, sections of both chronic painful (tendinosis) and pain-free (non-tendinosis) human Achilles tendons were immunohistochemically stained with anti...

BACKGROUND Chronic Achilles tendinosis is a common problem. When evaluating and comparing different therapies there is a need for reliable imaging methods. Our aim was to evaluate if chronic Achilles tendinosis affects the dynamic contrast-enhancement in the tendon and its surroundings and if short-term eccentric calf-muscle training normalizes the dynamic contrast-enhancement. METHODS 20 pat...

OBJECTIVE To determine the interobserver and intraobserver reliability of the interpretation of MRIs for supraspinatus tendinosis. METHODS In the interobserver trial, the MRIs of 52 athletes' shoulders were observed by 3 observers on one occasion within a 2-month period. All 52 images were read by the most experienced musculoskeletal radiologist on 3 different occasions on separate days witho...

BACKGROUND Chronic Achilles tendinosis is a relatively common but difficult orthopedic condition to treat. In this study, autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP), a concentrated bioactive blood component rich in cytokines and growth factors, was evaluated to determine its potential long-term efficacy in treating chronic cases of Achilles tendinosis resistant to traditional nonoperative management...

OBJECTIVES Percutaneous ultrasound-guided needle fenestration has been used to treat tendinopathy of the elbow, knee, and ankle with promising results. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of ultrasound-guided fenestration of tendons about the hip and pelvis. METHODS After Institutional Review Board approval, a retrospective search of imaging reports from January 1, ...

OBJECTIVE To critically review evidence for the effectiveness of eccentric exercise to treat lower extremity tendinoses. DATA SOURCES Databases used to locate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) included PubMed (1980-2006), CINAHL (1982-2006), Web of Science (1995-2006), SPORT Discus (1980-2006), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and the Cochrane Collaboration Database. Key words inclu...

OBJECTIVE The objective was to evaluate the effect of wrist posture on incidence of wrist tendinosis in a prospective cohort of blue-collar workers. BACKGROUND Previous studies have identified awkward wrist posture as a risk factor for wrist tendinosis, though the magnitude of the relationship is unclear. METHOD Workers (N = 413) at four industries were followed for up to 28 months with que...

Nitric oxide (NO) is a small free radical generated by a family of enzymes, the nitric oxide synthases (NOSs). Following injury to a tendon, NO is induced by all three isoforms of NOS and NOS activity is also upregulated in tendinopathy. In animal models when NOS activity is inhibited by competitive inhibitors of NOS, tendon healing is reduced. When additional NO is added, tendon healing is enh...

Overuse tendinopathies are common in primary care. Numerous investigators worldwide have shown that the pathology underlying these conditions is tendinosis or collagen degeneration. This applies equally in the Achilles, patellar, medial and lateral elbow, and rotator cuff tendons. If physicians acknowledge that overuse tendinopathies are due to tendinosis, as distinct from tendinitis, they must...