Overuse tendinosis, not tendinitis, part 1: a new paradigm for a difficult clinical problem (part 1)
PainSci summary of Khan 2000?This page is one of thousands in the PainScience.com bibliography. It is not a general article: it is focused on a single scientific paper, and it may provide only just enough context for the summary to make sense. Links to other papers and more general information are provided at the bottom of the page, as often as possible.
From the abstract: “If physicians acknowledge that overuse tendinopathies are due to tendinosis, as distinct from tendinitis, they must modify patient management … ”
original abstract†Abstracts here may not perfectly match originals, for a variety of technical and practical reasons. Some abstacts are truncated for my purposes here, if they are particularly long-winded and unhelpful. I occasionally add clarifying notes. And I make some minor corrections.
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 modify patient management in at least eight areas. These include adaptation of advice given when counseling, interaction with the physical therapist and athletic trainer, interpretation of imaging, choice of conservative management, and consideration of whether surgery is an option.
related content
- “Overuse tendinosis, not tendinitis, part 2: applying the new approach to patellar tendinopathy,” an article in Phys Sportsmed, 2000.
- “Histopathology of common tendinopathies. Update and implications for clinical management,” an article in Sports Medicine, 1999.
- “Plantar fasciitis: a degenerative process (fasciosis) without inflammation,” an article in Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 2003.
- “Treatment of tendinopathy: what works, what does not, and what is on the horizon,” an article in Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research, 2008.
These eight articles on PainScience.com cite Khan 2000 as a source:
- PS Deep Friction Massage Therapy for Tendinitis — A guide to a simple self-massage technique sometimes helpful in treating common tendinitis injuries like tennis elbow or Achilles tendinitis
- PS Icing for Injuries, Tendinitis, and Inflammation — Become a cryotherapy master
- PS Save Yourself from IT Band Syndrome! — All your treatment options for Iliotibial Band Syndrome reviewed in great detail, with clear explanations of recent scientific research supporting every key point
- PS Save Yourself from Plantar Fasciitis! — Plantar fasciitis explained in great detail, including every possible treatment option, and all supported by recent scientific research
- PS Save Yourself from Tennis Elbow! — Not just for tennis players, straight-talking advice on healing from this common tendinitis (lateral epicondylitis)
- PS Does Arnica Gel Work for Pain? — A detailed review of popular homeopathic (diluted) herbal creams and gels like Traumeel, used for muscle pain, joint pain, sports injuries, bruising, and post-surgical inflammation
- PS Pseudo-quackery in Chronic Pain Care — A field with a large gray zone between overt quackery and evidence-based care in musculoskeletal medicine
- PS Repetitive Strain Injuries Tutorial — Five surprising and important facts about repetitive strain injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, or iliotibial band syndrome
