Tendinopathy

Research from Deakin University in the area of arthritis published

Tendinopathy Library Library Home This article was published in Pain & Central Nervous System Week, which you can subscribe to online.

"Our objective was to examine the extent and consistency of associations between adiposity and tendinopathy. A systematic review of observational studies was conducted. Eight electronic databases were searched (Allied and Complementary Medicine, Biological Abstracts, CINAHL, Current Contents, EMBase, Medline, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science) and citation tracking was performed on included reports. Studies were included if they compared adiposity between subjects with and without tendon injury or examined adiposity as a predictor of conservative treatment success. Four longitudinal cohorts, 14 cross-sectional studies, 8 case-control studies, and 2 interventional studies (28 in total) met the inclusion criteria, providing a total of 19,949 individuals. Forty-two subpopulations were identified, 18 of which showed elevated adiposity to be associated with tendon injury (43%). Sensitivity analyses indicated a clustering of positive findings among studies that included clinical patients (81% positive) and among case-control studies (77% positive). Elevated adiposity is frequently associated with tendon injury. Published reports suggest that elevated adiposity is a risk factor for tendon injury, although this association appears to vary depending on aspects of study design and measurement. Adiposity is of particular interest in tendon research because, unlike a number of other reported risk factors for tendon injury, it is somewhat preventable and modifiable," wrote J.E. Gaida and colleagues, Deakin University.

The researchers concluded: "Further research is required to determine if reducing adiposity will reduce the risk of tendon injury or improve the results of treatment."

Gaida and colleagues published their study in Arthritis & Rheumatism - Arthritis Care & Research (Is Adiposity an Under-Recognized Risk Factor for Tendinopathy' A Systematic Review Arthritis & Rheumatism - Arthritis Care & Research, 2009;61(6):840-849).

For more information, contact J.E. Gaida, Deakin University, School Exercise & Nutrition Science, 221 Burwood Highway, Melbourne, Vic 3125, Australia.

Publisher contact information for the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism - Arthritis Care & Research is: Wiley-Liss, Division John Wiley & Sons Inc., 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA.

Keywords: Australia, Melbourne, Arthritis, Clinical Trial Research, Complementary Medicine, Rheumatism, Tendinopathy, Tendon Injury, Deakin University.

This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.