Effects of exercise on the biomechanical, biochemical and structural properties of tendons.

Tendon has been shown to undergo remodeling in response to strength or endurance training, however, compared to muscle, studies of the effects of exercise on tendon are limited and the information is inconsistent. Exercise may influence the structure, chemical composition and/or mechanical properties of tendon. Studies that have examined mechanical changes of tendon in response to endurance training suggest that ultimate failure strength and stiffness increase with training. Available reports indicate that increases in tensile strength and stiffness are probably not associated with increases in collagen concentration or with tendon hypertrophy. The paucity of data renders it impossible to evaluate the response of other structural, chemical and mechanical parameters to training. Furthermore, few investigators have included discrete measures of structural, biomechanical and biochemical variables within a single study. The lack of integrative studies makes it difficult to definitively associate changes in the mechanical properties of tendon with chemical composition and structure.