In vitro tendon models: A Scoping Review

Tendinopathy is a broad term encompassing pain, swelling and inflammation of the tendon, often as a result of injury or overuse (Loiacono et al., 2019). Achilles tendinopathy alone is estimated to affect over 150,000 people in the UK each year (Kearney et al., 2013). Current understanding in tendon research highlights that mechanical stimuli (such as running and walking) triggers adaptations at the cellular level (Magnusson et al., 2010). However, little detail is known about these adaptations and the signalling processes that occur as a result of mechanical loading, which subsequently lead to an adaptive response. During an adaptive response, external environmental cues elicit a specific response from an organism with the aim to increase survival within the new conditions. The limited understanding of how tendon cells respond in various external environments, such as during mechanical loading, or in disease and rupture, means that targeted therapies are limited. [Opening Paragraph]