title: Hormones and tendinopathies: the current evidence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tendinopathies negatively affect the quality of life of millions of people, but we still do not know the factors involved in the development of tendon conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Published articles in English in PubMed and Google Scholar up to June 2015 about hormonal influence on tendinopathies onset. One hundred and two papers were included following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vitro and in vivo, tenocytes showed changes in their morphology and in their functional properties according to hormonal imbalances.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Genetic pattern, sex, age and comorbidities can influence the hormonal effect on tendons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increasing prevalence of metabolic disorders prompts to investigate the possible connection between metabolic problems and musculoskeletal diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The influence of hormones on tendon structure and metabolism needs to be further investigated. If found to be significant, multidisciplinary preventive and therapeutic strategies should then be developed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.affiliation: School of Specialization of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piccirilli
authors.affiliation: UOC Immunohematology and Transfusion Medicine Laboratories, Laboratory of Stem Cells, Spirito Santo Hospital, Pescara, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Berardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frizziero
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tarantino
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Queen Mary University of London Barts, London, UK The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Mile End Hospital London, London, UK Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy n.maffulli@qmul.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maffulli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D011788:Quality of Life; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones
keywords: diabetes; hormonal imbalance; hormones; tendinopathy; tendon problems