An experimental model of tennis elbow in rats: a study of the contribution of the nervous system

Tendinopathies of the elbow, wrist, and hand: histopathology and clinical considerations

This article reviews the current opinion of the histopathological findings of common elbow, wrist, and hand tendinopathies. Implications for client management including examination, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, and outcomes are addressed. Concepts for further research regarding common therapeutic interventions are discussed.

Platelet rich plasma. A new treatment tool for the rheumatologist?

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a novel therapeutic tool that has revolutionized the world of sports medicine and trauma due to therapeutic success shown in the media. Subject to ongoing debate, the PRP is outlined along a spectrum of musculoskeletal therapies with many qualities that make it ideal for use in the rheumatology: effectiveness, safety, easy handling and low cost. Is PRP a product of marketing? Or, conversely, is an interesting tool to consider in the armamentarium of the rheumatologist. In the following review we will analyze in detail its principles, preparation, and management regimes. We will reflect on potential adverse effects and, finally, there will be a critical analysis of the scientific evidence that supports its potential use in the rheumatology clinic.

Tennis elbow: blending basic science with clinical practice

Tennis elbow defines a condition of varying degrees of pain or point tenderness on or near the lateral epicondyle. It is prevalent in individuals who perform a combination of forceful and repetitive activities including athletes and wheelchair users. The most common work-related disorder at the elbow is tennis elbow. Histopathological findings indicate that tennis elbow is a degenerative condition, called tendinosis, of the common extensor tendon, with the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon more commonly implicated as the primary location of tendinosis. Despite the absence of inflammation, patients with tennis elbow still present with pain. Neurochemicals including glutamate, substance P, and calcitonin gene-related peptide have been identified in patients with chronic tennis elbow and in animal models of tendinopathy. Their presence provides an alternative mechanism for pain mediation. Based on what is known about tissue changes within chronic tendinopathies, implications for therapy including examination and interventions are discussed.

Expression of neuropeptides and cytokines at the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle origin

To reveal whether neuropeptides and cytokines affect the pathogenesis of tennis elbow, expressions of substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, interleukin 1 alpha, and transforming growth factor beta1 at the origin of the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle were investigated in patients with tennis elbow (n = 10). Innervation in the origin was determined with use of the protein gene product 9.5. Substance P-like immunoreactivity and calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity were observed in the nerve fibers around small vessels without apparent infiltration of inflammatory cells. Cells showing positive interleukin 1 alpha or transforming growth factor beta1 immunoreactivity were noted in small vessels and the dense collagen meshwork in 5 of 10 cases. The results suggested that these neuropeptides and cytokines might promote inflammation and stimulate proliferation and matrix synthesis of fibroblasts, contributing to the pathology of tennis elbow.