Epidemiology, etiology, and pathogenesis of tendinopathy among athletes

Abstract

The treatment of tendinopathy can be challenging for clinicians and might be associated with serious adverse events. However, evidence shows that tendinopathy can significantly impact the professional careers of the affected athletes. The main clinical features of the condition include decreased performance and strength of the affected tendons, swelling, and localized pain. Although tendinopathy might seem a non-critical condition, estimates show that it might be career-ending for many professional athletes, and therefore, reducing their quality of life. In the present literature review, we have discussed the epidemiology, etiology, and pathogenesis of tendinopathy among athletes. Different intrinsic and extrinsic factors were found to contribute to the development of the condition and the impact of various systemic diseases. Evidence also shows that the prevalence of the condition is high among athletes. However, these rates were variable across the different studies in the literature. This is probably owing to various factors, like demographics and the process of detection. The pathogenesis of the condition is also very complicated, and the development of pain has been attributed to the process of angiogenesis and associated ingrowth of nerve fibers.