“Tendons are fundamentally susceptible to overuse,” explains Jess Snedeker, a professor of orthopedic biomechanics at ETH Zurich and Balgrist University Hospital in Zurich. “They must withstand powerful loads, with all the forces of our muscles being concentrated on the relatively thin tendons that transmit these forces into movement of our skeleton.”

In medical terms, the aforementioned conditions are known as tendinopathies. They are some of the most frequent conditions seen by orthopedic specialists, but treatment options are extremely limited.

Although physical therapy can help, there are many serious cases for which this treatment does not achieve much. Scientists are therefore keen to research these tendon problems in greater depth with a view to developing effective treatments.