Tendons are the dense, tough tissue that connect muscles to bone. They are a very common source of pain and injury, across all ages and activity levels. Due to their relatively poor blood supply, recovery from injury can be slow.
Injecting blood components which contain growth factors into or around the tendon concerned has been shown to accelerate healing and return to function.
Disease of a tendon is called tendinopathy, and includes:
- degeneration of the tendon from chronic stress of the tendon, or
- tendon tear which is usually from sudden traction on the tendon.
Tendon rupture needs surgical repair, but most tendinopathies and tears can be treated with a range of different injections.
Common tendon injuries include:
- Achilles tendinopathy;
- Tennis elbow /golfers elbow;
- Plantar fascia;
- Rotator cuff injury;
- Bicep tendinopathy; and
- Hamstring tendinopathy.