Definition and Incidence of Tendinopathy

Definition
Tendinopathy: Literally means a disease of a tendon. It describes overuse tendon injuries characterized by a combination of pain, diffuse or localized swelling, and impaired performance. It includes tendinosis (non-inflammatory repetitive stress injury of tendon fibres) and tendonitis (inflammation of a tendon or tendon-muscle attachment).

(Distinguishing tendinosis from tendinitis is clinically difficult and can be made only after histopathological examination)

Incidence
In one UK study, supraspinatus tendinosis was seen in 67% of elite swimmers
->(four times more likely if more than 35km was swum per week, or swimmers trained over 15hours per week)
In the US 35% of swimmers are estimated to suffer from tendinopathy


References:
http://www.dentalarticles.com/dictionary/tendinopathy.html
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Tendinosis
http://www.shoulderdoc.co.uk/article.asp?article=595http://www.emedicine.com/sports/TOPIC125.HTM

- Penny