Is There a Role for Acupuncture in the Treatment of Tendinopathy?

Tendinopathy is a debilitating condition in athletic and sedentary populations for which a gold standard treatment strategy does not yet exist. While the pathophysiology of tendinopathy is well understood, a debate remains as to the nature of the pain mechanism in tendinopathy which makes treatment selection challenging. This clinical discussion presents evidence to suggest that acupuncture may have a role in the treatment of tendinopathy, through the facilitation of tendon blood flow and fibroblastic activity, making recommendations for further research.