虽然肌腱病累及成百万人群,但其病因尚不清楚。[3]Almekinders LC, Temple JD. Etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of tendonitis: an analysis of the literature. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998 Aug;30(8):1183-90.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9710855?tool=bestpractice.com[8]Maffulli N, Kader D. Tendinopathy of tendo achillis. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2002 Jan;84(1):1-8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11837811?tool=bestpractice.com[9]Paavola M, Kannus P, Järvinen TA, et al. Achilles tendinopathy. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2002 Nov;84-A(11):2062-76.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12429771?tool=bestpractice.com[10]Maffulli N, Wong J, Almekinders LC. Types and epidemiology of tendinopathy. Clin Sports Med. 2003 Oct;22(4):675-92.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14560540?tool=bestpractice.com 多种因素如年龄、遗传、体重、和肌肉力量薄弱等都可能参与发病,但肌腱反复机械性的负荷被认为是肌腱病变发展的主要原因。[16]Wang JH, Iosifidis M, Fu F. Biomechanical basis of tendinopathy. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2006 Feb;443:320-32.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16462458?tool=bestpractice.com[17]Riley G. The pathogenesis of tendinopathy. A molecular perspective. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2004 Feb;43(2):131-42.https://academic.oup.com/rheumatology/article/43/2/131/1788308http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12867575?tool=bestpractice.com
肌腱有几种功能,包括机械力的传导、关节稳定、减震以限制肌肉损伤。 肌腱由胶原蛋白、蛋白多糖、糖蛋白、水和细胞组成。 能够在机械负荷的作用下改变它们的结构和组成。 而适当的机械负荷对肌腱是有益的,过度使用(施加在肌腱上的慢性、反复性机械负荷)则会导致病理改变。[4]Maffulli N, Khan KM, Puddu G. Overuse tendon conditions: time to change a confusing terminology. Arthroscopy. 1998 Nov-Dec;14(8):840-3.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9848596?tool=bestpractice.com[16]Wang JH, Iosifidis M, Fu F. Biomechanical basis of tendinopathy. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2006 Feb;443:320-32.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16462458?tool=bestpractice.com[18]Khan DM, Maffulli N. Tendinopathy: an Achilles' heel for athletes and clinicians. Clin J Sport Med. 1998 Jul;8(3):151-4.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9762473?tool=bestpractice.com