ABSTRACT
Medical and epidemiologic research in the past two decades have clearly shown that regular exercise is associated with many health benefits. Both preventive as well as therapeutic effects of exercise have been found in physical and mental illness. Data on effective injury prevention are still emerging, but many studies have addressed the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of these exercise-induced injuries, since these injuries are thought to be a major impediment to an exercise-oriented lifestyle. In particular, research on surgical treatment of major injuries has been the center of attention. This chapter reviews this basic research as it pertains to the role of the immune system in these injuries. It focuses on the local immune response at the site of injury. Chronic exercise-induced injuries are often described as repetitive motion or overuse injuries. It is thought that repetitive tensile, compressive, or shear forces eventually exceed the adaptive capabilities of the involved structure.
