Exploring the Beliefs, Perceptions, and Experiences of Individuals With Tendinopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Ethnography of Qualitative Studies.
Mark S Mesiha, Steven J Obst, Samantha Randall and 3 others
PMID 40293393WHAT IT FOUND
Patients with tendon pain want to know why it hurts and often fear exercise will cause damage.
They struggle to engage with rehab due to time, pain, or lack of trust. Clinicians should explain the condition clearly, reassure patients that gradual loading is safe, and simplify exercises to fit daily life.
Key findings
01The most common theme was patients' desire to understand why their tendon hurts, appearing in 18 of 23 studies.
02Patients often expected passive treatments like massage or injections, and viewed steroid injections as temporary relief with uncertain long-term efficacy.
03Barriers to rehabilitation included lack of time, pain during exercise, fear of further damage, and the cost of treatment.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
Nearly half of the included studies focused on rotator cuff tendinopathy, so findings may not generalize equally to all tendon locations. Some included studies focused on specific treatments rather than the lived experience of tendinopathy broadly. The lead author is a physical therapist, which may have influenced the interpretation of the qualitative data. Only studies published in English were included.
Declared interests
The research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that patients' preference for passive treatments means they are ineffective. The review reports what patients experienced and desired, not which treatments work best. Evidence cited in the discussion shows progressive strengthening is more effective, so do not use these patient beliefs to justify prescribing only passive care.