lihastendin

Lihastendin, or muscle tendon, is the connective tissue that links a muscle to a bone. It transmits the force generated by muscle contractions to the skeleton, enabling joint movement. Tendons are designed to withstand high tensile loads and exhibit viscoelastic properties, allowing them to store and release elastic energy during movement.

Structurally, tendons are primarily composed of type I collagen arranged in hierarchical fascicles, which gives them strength and resilience. They are surrounded by protective sheaths and connective tissue layers, such as the endotenon and epitenon. Blood supply to tendons is relatively limited, and nutrition largely comes from surrounding tissues and synovial fluid, which influences their healing capacity.

Tendons can be affected by overuse, aging, and biomechanical factors. Tendinopathy is a common, chronic condition characterized by pain and reduced function, often involving degenerative changes rather than active inflammation. Tendinitis refers to inflammatory processes, though true inflammatory tendonitis is less common in many tendinopathies. Tenosynovitis occurs when the tendon sheath becomes inflamed. Tendon injuries can range from partial tears to complete ruptures, sometimes following acute trauma or from prolonged degeneration.

Diagnosis typically relies on clinical history and physical examination, supported by imaging such as ultrasound or MRI to assess tendon structure, thickness, and tears. Treatment aims to reduce pain and restore function and usually starts with conservative measures: activity modification, relative rest, ice, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for short periods, and targeted physical therapy. Eccentric loading and gradual return to activity are common, effective strategies. Injections (for example corticosteroids) are used cautiously due to potential tendon weakening. Surgical repair may be considered for ruptures or refractory cases.

Prevention focuses on gradual training progression, proper warm-up, balanced strength around joints, adequate recovery, and addressing biomechanical issues to reduce overuse and strain on tendons.