Moderate exercise more beneficial for tendons than harmful

The onset of tendon disease had previously been associated with exercise, but a new research has found that doing moderate exercise could help guard against and treat the painful condition.

According to the new research from the University of East Anglia, moving around decreases a group of enzymes- metalloproteinases- that degrade tendon tissue and increase tendon protein.

The team led by researcher Dr Eleanor Jones used human Achilles tendon cells which were seeded in rat tail collagen gels. These were then subjected to levels of strain experienced by human tendons to simulate moderate exercise.

The research is published in the journal Molecular Cell Research.