These conditions frequently affect high‑use regions such as the rotator cuff, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle, where tendons are exposed to repetitive mechanical load. Tendons are connective structures attaching muscles to bones, ligaments, and other soft tissues, transmitting and directing force to allow human movement. When these tissues are repeatedly stressed, irritated, or overloaded, they may develop inflammation or degenerative changes that disrupt normal function. In fact, tendinopathy is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders encountered in both athletic and general populations, with lower‑extremity tendinopathies alone affecting approximately 11% of adults annually (Riel et al., 2019).
Some tendons glide within fluid‑filled sheaths, while others move freely around adjacent tissues, and both arrangements can become sensitised under repetitive strain. This is the basis for the term tendinitis, where itis denotes inflammation, and tendinopathy serves as a broader descriptor for any pathology affecting tendon structure or performance. Tendinopathy accounts for up to 30% of all musculoskeletal presentations in primary care (Albers et al., 2014), and may arise from and consequent to all kinds of physical activity. Tendon overload is the most consistent driver of symptoms, and overload can arise from sport, work, or even routine daily tasks.
Although often associated with athletes, tendinopathy may occur outside of sporting contexts. Research shows that patellar tendinopathy affects up to 14% of athletes in jumping sports, but also appears in 2–7% of the general population (Nutarelli et al., 2023). Tendon health is influenced by personal factors such as age, metabolic health, and biomechanics, as well as occupational and sporting loads. In professional team‑sport environments, for example, tendinopathy incidence has been recorded at 2.5 cases per 1000 hours of exposure (Florit et al., 2019), highlighting the cumulative impact of repetitive high‑intensity movement.
Clinically, tendinopathy often presents with localised pain that worsens with specific movements and improves with rest. Pain during loading is one of the most reliable indicators of tendon irritation. Many individuals also experience morning stiffness or discomfort after periods of inactivity, owing to sensitivity to mechanical change. Achilles tendinopathy specifically has a lifetime prevalence estimated between 6% and 18% (Riel et al., 2019), demonstrating how widespread tendon disorders can be across the lifespan.
Understanding the mechanisms behind tendon irritation helps guide effective management. Tendons respond to load, and appropriate, progressive loading remains the cornerstone of rehabilitation. Tendon capacity is built through consistent, structured exercise. Equally, identifying and modifying risk factors whether occupational, sporting, or structural can reduce recurrence and support long‑term tendon resilience.
Management of Tendinopathy depends on the cause of the pain, how it feels and changes over the day, what makes it better or worse, and the length of time you have been experiencing the pain. These details are carefully explored during your first assessment, which sets the foundation for reducing pain and improving comfort. Your treatment plan will be personalised to target the underlying cause, with a focus on easing discomfort, restoring pain-free movement, and building strategies to lower the chance of future flare-ups.
At Atlas Physio, we support you with clear guidance, structured care, and ongoing monitoring both in the clinic and at home. We make access simple by being open seven days a week, offering evening appointments, providing bulk billing for eligible clients, and ensuring no gap fees for WorkCover or TAC clients. Get in touch today to take the first step toward moving with ease and confidence, supported by care that is practical, dependable, and designed to deliver lasting results.
REFERENCES
Albers, S., Zwerver, J., & van den Akker‑Scheek, I. (2014). Incidence and prevalence of lower extremity tendinopathy in the general population. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 48(Suppl 2), A5.1.
Florit, D., Pedret, C., Casals, M., Malliaras, P., Sugimoto, D., & Rodas, G. (2019). Incidence of tendinopathy in team sports in a multidisciplinary sports club over 8 seasons. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 18, 780–788.
Nutarelli, S., Mondini Trissino da Lodi, C., Cook, J. L., Deabate, L., & Filardo, G. (2023). Epidemiology of patellar tendinopathy in athletes and the general population: A systematic review and meta‑analysis. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 11(6).
Riel, H., Lindstrøm, C. F., Rathleff, M. S., Jensen, M. B., & Olesen, J. L. (2019). Prevalence and incidence rate of lower‑extremity tendinopathies in a Danish general practice: A registry‑based study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 20, 239.
Axford, N., Locke, V., Mills, K., Rae, K., & others. (2021). The prevalence of tendinopathy in a professional Australian netball team: A pilot study. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 24(S1), S29–S164.