Some years ago I became intrigued with tendons. There is such mystery around them. They are one of the bridges in the body – bridging muscle to bone. Little is known about the tendon pathology and how best to treat it.  So, naturally, I wanted to delve into this challenge. I wanted to tame them. I wanted to be able to understand everything I could to know how to help them heal. Tendons are now one of my most favorite structures to treat. But honestly, just add them to the list of structures and systems that I love, because they are all interesting and they all work together.

At least 30% of office visits for musculoskeletal problems are issues with tendons – tendonitis, tendinosis, partial or complete tears.

Tendons have come into the light, finally. Each year, interesting and informative research is being added through on-going work. Whole conferences are now dedicated to sharing information just about tendinopathy, including basic science and clinical research. Vincenzino et al (2019).

If anyone pretends that they know for certain how to treat tendon disorders, then they have not read the most recent research. There is more not know than known.

Armed with the knowledge and skills that I do have, combined with what is known, solid scientific theory, and what I have discovered in my own clinical practice, there is hope in healing. And, it is my belief, that it takes a whole view of the body, all structures and systems, and the entire person in the context of their life to have the highest chance of success in each case.

I will share some of my passion about tendons with any who is interested, usually one of two camps:

1. those with a tendon pathology and

2. those who are attempting to help heal those with tendon pathology.

The following series of Bridges to Healing will focus on tendinopathy, a degenerative and non-inflammatory condition of the tendon that make injury much more likely, and is one of the more difficult musculoskeletal conditions to heal.

Join me on the journey if you will…

Rebecca Lowe, Integrative Physical Therapy with an advanced specialty training in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy and managing director of Manual Therapy of Nashville

Reference:

Vincenzino et al. Consensus statement ICON 2019—International Scientific Tendinopathy Symposium Consensus: There are nine core health-related domains for tendinopathy (CORE DOMAINS): Delphi study of healthcare professionals and patients British Journal of Sports Medicine. April 2020 – Volume 54 – 8.