Figure 1
From: Anti-inflammatory management for tendon injuries - friends or foes?
Overuse or excessive mechanical stimulation to tendons can lead to elevation of metalloproteinases (MMPs) which mediate collagen degradation and hence degenerative tendon injuries. Healing responses are activated but failed to repair the degenerative injuries, resulting in tendinopathy. It is possible that anti-inflammatory management may affect the development of degenerative injuries as well as the pathological processes of failed healing in tendinopathy.