title: An overview of structure, mechanical properties, and treatment for age-related tendinopathy.
abstract: Tendons transfer tensile loads from muscle to bone, which enable joint motions and stabilize joints. Tendons sustain large mechanical loads in vivo and as a result, tendons were frequently injured. Aging has been confirmed as a predisposing factor of tendinopathy and bad recovery quality following tendon repair. Current treatment methods are generally not effective and involve either symptomatic relief with non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs and physical therapy or surgery when conservative treatments failed. The limitation in treatment options is due to our incomplete knowledge of age-related tendinopathy. Studies over the past decades have uncovered a number of important mechanical and cellular changes of aging tendon. However, the basis of aging as a major risk factor for tendon injury and impaired tendon healing remained poorly understood. The objectives of this review are to provide an overview of the current knowledge about the aging-associated changes of structure, mechanical properties and treatment in tendon and highlight causes and therapies for age-related tendinopathy.
authors.affiliation: Kanglai Tang, MD/PhD; E-mail: yijian510868@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D013708:Tendon Injuries; D013710:Tendons / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*