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Why Rest, Medication & Injections aren't the solution

Written by Matthew Hwu, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS

References:

  1. 1. Duchman, K. R., Lemmex, D. B., Patel, S. H., Ledbetter, L., Garrigues, G. E. & Riboh, J. C. (2019). The Effect of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on Tendon-to-Bone Healing: A Systematic Review with Subgroup Meta-Analysis. The Iowa Orthopaedic Journal, 39(1), 107–119.
  2. 2. Magnusson SP, Kjaer M. The impact of loading, unloading, ageing and injury on the human tendon. J Physiol. 2019 Mar;597(5):1283-1298. doi: 10.1113/JP275450. Epub 2018 Jul 19. PMID: 29920664; PMCID: PMC6395417.
  3. 3. Wang Y, He G, Tang H, Shi Y, Kang X, Lyu J, Zhu M, Zhou M, Yang M, Mu M, Chen W, Zhou B, Zhang J, Tang K. Aspirin inhibits inflammation and scar formation in the injury tendon healing through regulating JNK/STAT-3 signaling pathway. Cell Prolif. 2019 Jul;52(4):e12650. doi: 10.1111/cpr.12650. Epub 2019 Jun 21. PMID: 31225686;
  4. 4. Kubo K, Akima H, Ushiyama J. et al. Effects of 20 days of bed rest on the viscoelastic properties of tendon structures in lower limb muscles. Br J Sports Med 2004;38:324–30.
  5. 5. Ohno K, Yasuda K, Yamamoto N. et al. Effects of complete stress-shielding on the mechanical properties and histology of in situ frozen patellar tendon. J Orthop Res 1993;11:592–602.
  6. 6. Rio E, Kidgell D, Moseley GL, Gaida J, Docking S, Purdam C, Cook J. Tendon neuroplastic training: changing the way we think about tendon rehabilitation: a narrative review. Br J Sports Med. 2016 Feb;50(4):209-15. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2015-095215. Epub 2015 Sep 25. PMID: 26407586; PMCID: PMC4752665.
  7. 7. Cook JL, Purdam CRIs tendon pathology a continuum? A pathology model to explain the clinical presentation of load-induced tendinopathyBritish Journal of Sports Medicine 2009;43:409-416.
  8. 8. Lu H, Yang H, Shen H, Ye G, Lin XJ. The clinical effect of tendon repair for tendon spontaneous rupture after corticosteroid injection in hands: A retrospective observational study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016 Oct;95(41):e5145. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000005145. PMID: 27741145; PMCID: PMC5072972.
  9. 9. Yamada K, Masuko T, Iwasaki N. Rupture of the flexor digitorum profundus tendon after injections of insoluble steroid for a trigger finger. J Hand Surg Eur Vol 2011; 36:77–78.
  10. 10. Mills SP, Charalambous CP, Hayton MJ. Bilateral rupture of the extensor pollicis longus tendon in a professional goalkeeper following steroid injections for extensor tenosynovitis. Hand Surg 2009; 14:135–137.
  11. 11. Smith AG, Kosygan K, Williams H. et al. Common extensor tendon rupture following corticosteroid injection for lateral tendinosis of the elbow. Br J Sports Med 1999; 33:423–424.discussion 4–5
  12. 12. Visser TSS, van Linschoten R, Vicenzino B, Weir A, de Vos RJ. Terminating Corticosteroid Injection in Tendinopathy? Hasta la Vista, Baby. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2024 Jan;54(1):10-13. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2023.11875. PMID: 37506303.
  13. 13. Cook JL, Rio E, Purdam CR, et al.Revisiting the continuum model of tendon pathology: what is its merit in clinical practice and research?British Journal of Sports Medicine 2016;50:1187-1191.

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