What is tendinopathy, and what is the general rehab approach?

• A. Tendon inflammation only; rest only
• B. Tendon degeneration or overload; rehab uses graded loading, eccentric exercises, and load management
• C. Bone fracture
• D. Ligament sprain

Answer: (B)

Tendinopathy describes a tendon problem from chronic overload or degeneration of the tendon tissue, not just a simple inflammatory process. The tendon’s structure becomes disorganized, with changes in collagen and sometimes new blood vessels, which means simply resting it or assuming it’s only inflamed won’t restore function. The rehab approach is built around graded loading to encourage proper tissue adaptation, rather than prolonged rest. Eccentric exercises are particularly effective because loading the tendon as it lengthens helps realign collagen fibers and increase tendon strength. This is combined with load management to avoid spikes in stress and to allow steady, progressive improvement. In practice, you start with controlled, tolerable loading and gradually increase the demands, using pain as a guide to stay within safe limits. Overall, the goal is to restore the tendon’s capacity through thoughtful loading, with eccentric work driving remodeling and gradual progression ensuring sustainable recovery.