Student toolkit · Tendinopathy
Think beyond the label. Build capacity around the person.
A practical guide to continuum thinking, load response, common myths and progressive rehabilitation.
Evidence-informed overview
Use the evidence to sharpen the conversation.
Pathophysiology
A load-capacity problem—not one tidy tissue stage
- The continuum model can organise tendon responses, but a person may show mixed features.
- Persistent tendon pain cannot be reduced to a simple inflammation-versus-degeneration binary.
- Structural change, symptoms and function do not map neatly onto one another.
Clinical pearlUse pathology models to support reasoning, not assign a definitive stage from symptoms alone.
Starting points include tendon continuum literature and contemporary condition-specific guidance. Verify original sources before formal teaching.
Educational information only. It is not individual health advice and does not replace clinical assessment, local referral pathways or medical review when indicated.
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