Hormones and tendinopathies: the current evidence

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Endocrinology
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Tendinopathies significantly impact quality of life globally.
• The specific factors contributing to tendon condition development remain largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the existing literature on the influence of hormones on the onset of tendinopathies.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed and Google Scholar for articles published up to June 2015.
• One hundred and two papers were selected and analyzed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Main Results:

• In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that hormonal imbalances lead to changes in tenocyte morphology and function.
• Factors such as genetic predisposition, sex, age, and comorbidities can modulate the impact of hormones on tendons.

Conclusions:

• The rising incidence of metabolic disorders necessitates investigation into their link with musculoskeletal diseases.
• Further research into the role of hormones in tendon structure and metabolism is crucial for developing effective, multidisciplinary preventive and therapeutic approaches.