ABSTRACT
Tendinopathy has distinguishing features in regard to clinical presentation, pathophysiology, imaging options and treatment options. Since tendinopathies often co-exist with other musculoskeletal conditions, they are overlooked and the underlying pathophysiology is not completely treated. This chapter presents the integrative approaches to clinical diagnosis and treatment. Tendinopathy has been treated for many years with physical therapy. An important use of physical therapy is to use Scientific Therapeutic Exercise Progression (STEP) to improve the strength and organization of the collagen in the tendon. Physical therapy approaches may work on strengthening, working on muscle imbalances and movement patterns. The current injection therapies that fall into this category are: prolotherapy, platelet-rich plasma, amniotic membrane solution injection, and stem cell injections. Platelet-rich plasma is an injection treatment that has been used extensively to treat all tendon areas of tendinopathy for the past 10 years.
