Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Skeletal Radiol 2020 Jul 8. Epub 2020 Jul 8.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1513 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.

Objective: Use ultrashort echo time (UTE) magnetic resonance imaging to quantify bound water components of asymptomatic older Achilles tendons and investigate the relationship between UTE findings and imaging assessment of sub-clinical tendinopathy.

Materials And Methods: Thirteen young (age 25 ± 4.8) and thirteen older (age 67 ± 4. Read More

J Orthop Translat 2020 Jul 2;23:113-121. Epub 2020 Apr 2.

Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan.

Background & Objective: Tendinopathy is a tendon disease with abnormal mechanical loading to induce chronic repetitive injury. However, lack of a comparable animal model to demonstrate clinical progressions has hindered the understanding of anatomical and pathological changes. The major extracellular matrix (ECM) in the tendon consists of abundant type I collagen (COL) and minimal amount of elastin (ELN). Read More

Skeletal Radiol 2020 Jul 6. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, No. 126, Wenzhou Road, Gongshu District, Hangzhou, 310000, Zhejiang, China.

Objective: To analyze the MRI manifestations of and factors related to ankle injuries in asymptomatic amateur marathon runners.

Materials And Methods: A total of 113 amateur marathon runners without any ankle joint symptoms were recruited. Each participant was asked to complete a questionnaire at the beginning of the study and underwent MRI of the ankle. Read More

J Sport Health Sci 2020 Jun 30. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Department of Musculoskeletal Disorders, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Salerno 89100, Italy; Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi (SA), Italy; Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Mile End Hospital, 275 Bancroft Road, London E1 4DG, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK; School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University Faculty of Medicine, Thornburrow Drive, Stoke on Trent, UK. Electronic address:

Background: When non-operative management fails to improve symptoms in patients with non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy, surgery may be required. Various open and endoscopic techniques have been proposed, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections have been proposed as an adjunct to aid tendon healing.

Methods: Thirty-six patients with mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy were randomized to undergo endoscopic debridement alone (n = 19) or in combination with intraoperative PRP application (n = 17). Read More

Scand J Med Sci Sports 2020 Jul 2. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands.

Background: Achilles tendinopathy(AT) occurs in half of elite runners. AT is a difficult to treat tendon disease, which may progress from new-onset to a chronic state. It is unknown how many runners with new-onset AT develop persisting symptoms and which prognostic factors are associated with this course. Read More

Int Orthop 2020 Jun 30. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Genos Ltd, Borongajska cesta 83h, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in matrix remodelling, as well as in tendon integrity. Due to overuse, athletes often develop chronic tendinopathies. If not treated, they lead to severe impairment, even complete tendon ruptures. Read More

J Exp Orthop 2020 Jun 27;7(1):45. Epub 2020 Jun 27.

Orthopedic Department, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.

Purpose: To evaluate if High-volume Image-guided Injection (HVIGI)-treatment for chronic mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy (AT) improve function and reduce pain at 12-months follow-up.

Methods: Patients with resistant mid-portion AT who failed to improve after a three-month eccentric loading program were included in the study. Maximal tendon thickness was assessed with ultrasound. Read More

PeerJ 2020 8;8:e8740. Epub 2020 Jun 8.

Tissue Engineering Group (TEG), National Orthopaedics Centre of Excellent Research & Learning (NOCERAL), Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) had been reported to be associated with tendinopathy. However, the underlying mechanisms of diabetic tendinopathy still remain largely to be discovered. The purpose of this study was to develop insulin resistance (IR) model on primary human tenocytes (hTeno) culture with tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) treatment to study tenocytes homeostasis as an implication for diabetic tendinopathy. Read More

J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2020 Jun 23. Epub 2020 Jun 23.

Department of Orthopedics, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.

Background: The asymptomatic side of unilateral Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is used as a reference in ultrasound. However, this procedure has not been evaluated in a comparative analysis using B-Mode (B-US), Power Doppler (PD-US), Ultrasound Tissue Characterization (UTC) and Shear Wave Elastography (SWE).

Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Read More

Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2020 Jul 1;55:320-326. Epub 2020 Jun 1.

South Tyneside Hospital, Newcastle, UK.

Background: Chronic Achilles Tendinopathy is a common condition that can be challenging to treat. There are many modalities used as treatment ranging from physiotherapy, injections, shockwave therapy to surgical intervention. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) has increased in popularity recently as a treatment option for Achilles Tendinopathy. Read More

Acta Biomed 2020 May 30;91(4-S):167-171. Epub 2020 May 30.

Orthopedics and Traumatology Operative Unit Forlì Presidia AUSL of Romagna.

Background And Aim Of The Work: With the term "Haglund›s syndrome" we define a condition characterized clinically by pain at the insertion of Achille›s tendon and, anatomopathologically, due to the presence of retrocalcaneal bursitis and at times associated with an insertional Achille›s tendinopathy. The aim of the work is to correlate the most reliable and reproducible treatment possible to the aforementioned variables of Haglund›s syndrome.

Methods: The classic syndromic picture is characterized by pain caused by retrocalcaneal bursitis. Read More

J Orthop Surg Res 2020 Jun 17;15(1):224. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Institute of Sports Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China.

Background: Achilles sleeve avulsion usually occurs from pre-existing insertional Achilles tendinopathy, leaving a calcific spur at the insertional site. The purpose of this study was to introduce a new technique using the spur base on the insertional site to drill the suture tunnel to repair Achilles sleeve avulsion.

Methods: In total, 11 patients diagnosed with Achilles sleeve avulsion underwent this new surgical technique and were followed for a mean time of 40 months. Read More

BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2020 9;6(1):e000769. Epub 2020 Jun 9.

Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Anatomy Section, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.

Background: Insertional Achilles tendinopathy is well known to be difficult to treat, especially when there is intra-tendinous bone pathology. This study is a case series on patients with chronic insertional Achilles tendon pain and major intra-tendinous bony pathology together with bursa and tendon pathology, treated with excision of the subcutaneous bursa alone.

Methods: Eleven patients (eight men and three women) with a mean age of 44 years (range 24-62) and a chronic (>6 months) painful condition from altogether 15 Achilles tendon insertions were included. Read More

Ultrasound 2019 Aug 19;27(3):138-147. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Department of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.

The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using sonoelastography to depict Achilles tendon stiffness after platelet-rich plasma injection and eccentric exercise for chronic Achilles tendinopathy, and to correlate sonoelastography findings with clinical outcome up to 12 months after treatment. Forty-five Achilles tendons from 45 patients (33 males, 12 females; mean age 51 years) were examined using sonoelastography and ultrasound at baseline, 4-6 weeks, 6 months and 12 months post-treatment. The strain ratio (between Achilles tendon and Kager's fat) during sonoelastography was obtained. Read More

Foot Ankle Int 2020 Jun;41(6):755-756

Foot Ankle Int 2020 Jun;41(6):757-758

Ultrasound Med Biol 2020 Jun 8. Epub 2020 Jun 8.

Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation (CRIR), Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address:

Tendon integrity can be described using a wide range of biomarkers via specialized analysis software for images recorded by musculoskeletal ultrasonography. This study proposes a minimal biomarker data set to characterize Achilles tendon ultrasound images and to differentiate between symptomatic and asymptomatic Achilles tendon images. Forty-one individuals with unilateral Achilles tendinopathy and 35 healthy controls had their Achilles tendon images recorded bilaterally by ultrasonography in the longitudinal and transverse planes. Read More

Br J Sports Med 2020 Jun 10. Epub 2020 Jun 10.

Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands.

Objective: To provide a consistently updated overview of the comparative effectiveness of treatments for Achilles tendinopathy.

Design: Living systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Data Sources: Multiple databases including grey literature sources were searched up to February 2019. Read More

Curr Sports Med Rep 2020 Jun;19(6):209-216

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA.

There is no consensus on the optimal rehabilitation protocol after platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment for tendinopathy despite basic science studies showing the critical role of mechanical loading in the restoration of tendon structure and function posttreatment. In this article, we will review tendon mechanobiology, platelet biology, and review levels I and II Achilles tendon clinical studies paying particular attention to the role of mechanical loading in rehabilitation of injured tendons. Animal studies emphasize the synergistic effect of mechanical tendon loading and PRP to treat tendon injury while clinical studies described minimal details on loading protocols. Read More

Expert Opin Pharmacother 2020 Jun 8:1-11. Epub 2020 Jun 8.

Department of Musculoskeletal Disorders, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno , Baronissi, Italy.

Introduction: Tendinopathies are common in elite and recreational athletes: traditionally considered overuse injuries, they involve excessive tensile loading and subsequent breakdown of the loaded tendon. Many pharmacological treatments have been proposed for the management of tendinopathy, with no agreement regarding the overall best option available both for Achilles and patellar tendinopathy.

Areas Covered: The present article reports the best scientific evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of different pharmacological treatments in different types of tendinopathy, focusing on Achilles and patellar tendinopathy, the conditions on which more studies have been published. Read More

Acta Cir Bras 2020 22;35(3):e202000303. Epub 2020 May 22.

Postgraduate Program in Material Engineering (PPGEM), IFPI, Teresina, PI, Brazil.

Purpose: To evaluate the in vivo response of photobiomodulation therapy associated with norbixin-based poly(hydroxybutyrate) membrane (PHB) in tenotomized calcaneal tendon.

Methods: Thirty rats were randomly allocated to six groups (n=5 each): LED groups (L1, L2 and L3) and membrane + LED groups (ML1, ML2 and ML3). The right calcaneal tendons of all animals were sectioned transversely and were irradiated with LED daily, one hour after surgery every 24 hours, until the day of euthanasia. Read More

Scand J Med Sci Sports 2020 May 31. Epub 2020 May 31.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Background: Isometric exercises may provide an immediate analgesic effect in patients with lower-limb tendinopathy and have been proposed as initial treatment and for immediate pain relief. Current evidence is conflicting, and previous studies were small.

Objective: To study whether isometric exercises result in an immediate analgesic effect in patients with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy. Read More

PLoS One 2020 29;15(5):e0233459. Epub 2020 May 29.

Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.

Background: Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a common and often persistent musculoskeletal disorder affecting both athletic and non-athletic populations. Despite the relatively high incidence there is little insight into the impact and perceptions of tendinopathy from the individual's perspective. Increased awareness of the impact and perceptions around individuals' experiences with Achilles tendinopathy may provide crucial insights for the management of what is often a complex, persistent, and disabling MSK disorder. Read More

Ortop Traumatol Rehabil 2020 Apr;22(2):107-119

Katedra i Zakład Farmakologii Doświadczalnej i Klinicznej, Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Warszawa, Polska.

Background: Osteoarthritis is a global health problem. Approaches to symptomatic treatment of its consequences in-clude biological methods, including autologous serum. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Orthokine therapy in our experience. Read More

Orthop J Sports Med 2020 Apr 30;8(4):2325967120915857. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

The Sports Physician Group, Department of Sports Medicine, OLVG West, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Background: Stem cell therapy is an emerging treatment for tendon disorders.

Purpose: To systematically review the efficacy of stem cell therapy for patients with tendon disorders.

Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. Read More

Orthop J Sports Med 2020 Apr 30;8(4):2325967120917271. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.

Background: Achilles tendinopathy is a debilitating overuse injury characterized by pain, altered Achilles tendon structure, and impaired functional performance. Evaluating tendon structure as part of the physical examination may help establish a well-defined prognosis. However, the usefulness of measuring tendon structure for developing a prognosis has been questioned since structural abnormalities can exist without symptoms. Read More

Skeletal Radiol 2020 May 8. Epub 2020 May 8.

IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Via R. Galeazzi 4, 20161, Milan, Italy.

Calcific tendinopathy typically affects the shoulder rotator cuff tendons. Its management includes shock wave therapy and US-guided percutaneous irrigation, with surgery being less and less used. Extra-shoulder calcific tendinopathy is relatively infrequent and typically affects the hip. Read More

J Orthop Surg Res 2020 May 7;15(1):168. Epub 2020 May 7.

Department of Orthopaedics/Sports Medicine Center, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Gaotanyan Street 30, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400038, China.

Background: Haglund syndrome is a common disease that causes posterior heel pain. This study compared the clinical outcomes of dorsal closing wedge calcaneal osteotomy (DCWCO) and posterosuperior prominence resection (PPR) for the treatment of Haglund syndrome.

Methods: This retrospective study included 12 patients who underwent DCWCO and 32 patients who underwent PPR from January 2010 to August 2016. Read More

Arthrosc Tech 2020 Apr 27;9(4):e559-e563. Epub 2020 Mar 27.

Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, North District Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Posterior ankle pain is a common foot and ankle problem faced by orthopaedic surgeons. It can have many causes, including posterior ankle joint pathologies (synovitis or osteochondral lesion), ankle impingement (posterior, posterolateral, or posteromedial), flexor hallucis longus pathologies, peroneal tendon problems, posterior tibial tendinopathy, Achilles tendon pathology, posterior subtalar tarsal coalition, or tarsal tunnel syndrome. Most of these pathologies can be managed effectively by an endoscopic approach. Read More

JBJS Essent Surg Tech 2020 Jan-Mar;10(1):e0035. Epub 2020 Feb 21.

The Hughston Clinic, Columbus, Georgia.

Insertional Achilles tendinopathy causes posterior heel pain at the insertion of the Achilles tendon, often in combination with a calcaneal exostosis, or Haglund deformity. Insertional Achilles tendinopathy often presents with a posterior osseous prominence and leads to calcification of the Achilles tendon. Nonoperative treatment of these conditions includes activity modification, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, heel lifts, shoe modification, physical therapy focused on eccentric strengthening exercises, iontophoresis, and shock wave therapy. Read More

Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 2020 May 2. Epub 2020 May 2.

Division of Orthopedics and Traumatology, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2020 Jun 29;50(6):334-343. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

Objectives: Peripherally directed treatments (targeted exercise, surgery) can reduce, but not fully eliminate, pain for up to 40% of patients with Achilles tendinopathy. The objectives of the present study were (1) to identify indicators of altered central processing in participants with Achilles tendinopathy compared to controls, and (2) to determine which indicators of altered central processing would persist after a local anesthetic injection in patients with Achilles tendinopathy.

Design: Mechanistic clinical trial. Read More

Foot Ankle Int 2020 Jun 30;41(6):744-754. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.

Background: Achilles tendinopathy is a common clinical problem that can be either insertional or noninsertional. A variety of treatment methods have been described, although little consensus exists on an optimal method or methods. We sought to investigate the current evidence on different treatment methods for noninsertional Achilles tendinopathy, with a focus on functional outcomes. Read More

J Med Food 2020 Apr 27. Epub 2020 Apr 27.

Department of Statistics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.

Tendinopathy risk increases with menopause. The phytoestrogen genistein prevents collagen loss during estrogen deficiency (ovariectomy [OVX]). The influence of genistein on tendon function and extracellular matrix (ECM) regulation is not well known. Read More

BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2020 25;6(1):e000699. Epub 2020 Mar 25.

Bond Institute of Health and Sport, Bond University Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Aim: To develop a standardised ultrasound imaging (USI)-based criteria for the diagnosis of tendinopathy that aligns with the continuum model of tendon pathology. Secondary aims were to assess both the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the criteria.

Methods: A criteria was developed following a face validity assessment and a total of 31 Achilles tendon ultrasound images were analysed. Read More

J Foot Ankle Surg 2020 Jul - Aug;59(4):795-800. Epub 2020 Apr 25.

Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA. Electronic address:

Running is one of the most popular sports worldwide, with many health benefits. Injuries are also common, with running-related injuries reported in up to 79% of runners annually. Extracorporeal shockwave treatment can be used to treat soft tissue conditions, with the strongest level of evidence for management of plantar fasciitis. Read More

J Ultrason 2020 31;20(80):e6-e11. Epub 2020 Mar 31.

Department of Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel , Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Belgium.

Reliable assessment of Achilles tendon structure (architecture and morphology) may help prevent clinical symptoms or progression of Achilles tendinopathy. The objective of this study was to determine the interrater reliability of musculoskeletal ultrasonography for the assessment of the mid-portion of the Achilles tendon: (1) structure, (2) anteroposterior diameter and (3) neovascularization, in asymptomatic military personnel. Two sonographers acquired B-mode images of the Achilles tendon mid-portion in 74 volunteers (148 tendons) in short-axis and long-axis planes to assess its structure and measure the maximum anteroposterior diameter. Read More

Arch Prev Riesgos Labor 2020 Apr 15;23(2):211-233. Epub 2020 Apr 15.

Especialista en Medicina del Trabajo, Grupo Correos, Valencia, Spain.

BMC Med Genet 2020 04 17;21(1):82. Epub 2020 Apr 17.

Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.

Background: Investigations in genetics have provided valuable information about the correlation between gene variants and tendinopathy. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of COL5A1 gene are reported to be involved in Achilles tendinopathy, chronic degenerative tendon changes at the elbow, and other tendinopathies. The influence of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of COL5A1 was previously analyzed in rotator cuff disease with confounding results. Read More

Clin Orthop Relat Res 2020 Apr 14. Epub 2020 Apr 14.

M. Macchi, S. Elli, University of Milan, Milan, Italy M. Spezia, University of Padua, Padua, Italy G. Schiaffini, Università Roma "La Sapienza," Rome, Italy E. Chisari, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.

Background: Inflammation and mechanical demands play a role in the development of tendon conditions and the dysregulation of tendon healing. In patients with obesity, high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and a high mechanical demand promote chronic low-grade inflammation. Although controversial results have been reported, we aimed to summarize current evidence while highlighting the role of obesity in tendinopathy. Read More

Niger Postgrad Med J 2020 Apr-Jun;27(2):87-92

Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.

Background: Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is one of the most frequently reported ankle and foot overuse injuries. Prior studies have reported altered biomechanical variables of the lower limb as risk factors for the prevalence and severity of AT in athletes, especially in Caucasians, but there are few reports on African elite athletes. Because it is established that anthropometric and biomechanical values vary with racial disposition, this study was designed to investigate the association between selected physical and biomechanical variables of the lower limb and the prevalence and severity of AT in Nigerian elite track and field athletes. Read More

J Athl Train 2020 May 8;55(5):438-447. Epub 2020 Apr 8.

Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark.

Achilles tendinopathy is a painful overuse injury that is extremely common in athletes, especially those who participate in running and jumping sports. In addition to pain, Achilles tendinopathy is accompanied by alterations in the tendon's structure and mechanical properties, altered lower extremity function, and fear of movement. Cumulatively, these impairments limit sport participation and performance. Read More

Anat Sci Int 2020 Apr 4. Epub 2020 Apr 4.

Department of Normal and Clinical Anatomy, Medical University of Lodz, Żeligowskiego 7/9, 90-136, Łódź, Poland.

The body is home to a number of unique and intriguing anatomical structures, plenty of which concern the muscles and their tendons. Of these, the plantaris muscle is reported to present a particularly high range of morphological variations. The muscle, passing distally throughout the length of the lower leg, consists of a small muscle belly and a long, thin tendon. Read More

Surg Radiol Anat 2020 Apr 4. Epub 2020 Apr 4.

Department of Normal and Clinical Anatomy, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.

Purpose: Seemingly a well-known, weak, and vestigial plantaris muscle should not be a revelation. However, recent studies have shown that this structure is incredibly underestimated and perceived only as an infirm flexor of the talocrural joint, the knee joint or a great source of graft tissue. Usually, the origin of this inconspicuous muscle begins at the lateral supracondylar line of the femur and the knee joint capsule. Read More

Orthop J Sports Med 2020 Mar 19;8(3):2325967120907985. Epub 2020 Mar 19.

Wholelife Clinics, London, UK.

Background: Surgical management may be indicated for patients with insertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT) after failure of nonoperative management, and various surgical techniques have been described.

Hypothesis: We present the technique and results of modified dorsal closing wedge calcaneal osteotomy, performed in a cohort of 28 consecutive patients. We hypothesized that this will be a safe procedure that can improve hindfoot pain and function for most patients who will return to preoperative daily life and sports activities. Read More

Clin Rehabil 2020 Jun 23;34(6):713-722. Epub 2020 Mar 23.

Discipline of Evidence-Based Medicine, Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the benefits and harms of low-level laser therapy for Achilles tendinopathy.

Data Sources: Search strategies were conducted (from inception to February 2020) in Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Literatura Latino Americana em Ciências da Saúde e do Caribe (LILACS), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), SPORTDiscus, ClinicalTrials.gov, World Health Organization (WHO)-ICTRP and OpenGrey databases, to retrieve all randomized controlled trials that compared laser therapy with inactive/active interventions. Read More

J Spec Oper Med 2020 ;20(1):125-140

Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a clinical term describing a nonrupture injury of the Achilles tendon where the patient presents with pain, swelling, and reduced performance and symptoms exacerbated by physical activity. About 52% of runners experience AT in their lifetime and in the United States military the rate of clinically diagnosed AT cases was 5/1000 person-yr in 2015. The pathophysiology can be viewed on a continuum proceeding from reactive tendinopathy where tenocytes proliferate, protein production increases, and the tendon thickens; to tendon disrepair in which tenocytes and protein production increase further and there is focal collagen fiber disruption; to degenerative tendinopathy involving cell death, large areas of collagen disorganization, and areas filled with vessels and nerves. Read More

Stem Cell Res Ther 2020 Mar 20;11(1):131. Epub 2020 Mar 20.

Department of Orthopaedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, China.

Background: Hypercholesterolemia increases the risk of tendon pain and tendon rupture. Tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) play a vital role in the development of tendinopathy. Our previous research found that high cholesterol inhibits tendon-related gene expression in TDSCs. Read More

Biochem Pharmacol 2020 May 17;175:113919. Epub 2020 Mar 17.

Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Achilles tendinopathy has a high re-injury rate and poor prognosis. Development of effective therapy for Achilles tendinopathy is important. Excessive accumulation of ROS and resulting oxidative stress are believed to cause tendinopathy. Read More

Photochem Photobiol 2020 Mar 19. Epub 2020 Mar 19.

Post-graduation program in Biomedical Engineering, Universidade Brasil, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

This systematic review analyzed the light parameters and the effects of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) through low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and/or LED (light-emitting diode) on tendon repair of rats submitted to calcaneal injury. This study was conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Meta-Analysis, and PubMed and MEDLINE databases were accessed to search eligible studies published in English. The search terms were as follows: "Achilles tendon" or "Calcaneal tendon" or "tendon injuries" or "soft tissue injuries" and "tendinopathy" or "tendinitis" and "low-level light therapy" or "low-level laser therapy" or "low intensity power therapy" or "light-emitting diode" or photobiomodulation. Read More