The Pathogenic Mechanisms of Tendinopathy

Tendinopathy is clinically manifested by pain and swelling in the injury site of tendons, and histologically, it is featured by tendon inflammation or degeneration, either alone or in combination. The etiology of tendinopathy may involve multi-factors (mechanical, neurologic, genetic, etc.), and this may explain why tendinopathy is a spectrum of tendon disorders. However, in young active adults such as athletes, excessive mechanical loading placed on the tendons is considered to be a major causative factor for tendinopathy. Such abnormal mechanical loading causes changes at the structural, cellular, and molecular levels in the tendon, which eventually lead to full-blown tendinopathy. This chapter provides a concise review of theories on the pathogenesis of tendinopathy and suggests future research directions toward better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of tendinopathy.