- Many people have tendon pain in knees, shoulders, or elbows.
- It affects both young athletes and older people.
- Tendon pain often comes from too much load on tendons.
- HIF1 is a protein found in tendon cells.
- Higher HIF1 levels can start tendon damage.
- Damaged tendons become stiffer and break more easily.
- Blood vessels and nerves can grow into tendon tissue.
- This growth helps explain why the pain appears.
- When damage is advanced, physiotherapy may not help.
Difficult words
- tendon — strong tissue that connects muscle to bonetendons
- protein — a molecule in cells that does work
- damage — harm or injury to a part of body
- stiff — not soft, hard to bend or movestiffer
- physiotherapy — treatment with exercises to help the body
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever had tendon pain?
- Do you play sports?
- Would you try physiotherapy if you had tendon pain?
Related articles
Africa uses AI to strengthen health systems and self-reliance
At the CPHIA conference in Durban, Africa CDC said AI and digital tools can help protect 1.4 billion people, improve surveillance and support primary health care. Data governance, infrastructure and domestic financing are key concerns.
New PET study links brain markers in Parkinson’s disease
Researchers used PET scans to compare two brain markers — dopamine transporters and synaptic density — in people with Parkinson’s and healthy volunteers. The study shows the usual link between markers breaks down in Parkinson’s.
Most young users still smoke nicotine, tobacco or cannabis
A 2022–23 study of people aged 12–34 found most young Americans who use nicotine, tobacco or cannabis still smoke one or more combustible products. The research groups users by their usual product patterns and urges targeted prevention.