Color-coded diagram of the elbow joint showing muscles, tendons, and bones, with labels and lines indicating anatomical parts.

Elbow

(Tennis/Golfers Elbow e.g. Tendinopathies)

Core message: Tendinopathy is a failed healing response, not purely inflammatory; exercise loading is required to induce collagen remodeling and restore tendon capacity.

Key evidence:

  1. Coombes BK et al., BMJ 2010;340:c1198 — Systematic review: exercise and load conditioning central to management; passive treatments less durable.

  2. Stasinopoulos D et al., Br J Sports Med 2005;39(2):94‑98 — Eccentric‑concentric and isometric exercises provide superior outcomes over stretching and modalities.

  3. Heales LJ et al., Clin Rehabil 2016;30(5):461‑470 — Exercise therapy more effective than wait‑and‑see for tennis elbow.

Elbow/Wrist: Epicondylalgia and Tendinopathies

Clinical Layer:

  • Rehab-driven eccentric and concentric loading restore function; passive modalities offer less durable improvements.

Chronobiological Layer:

  • Evidence suggests peripheral oscillator disruption (due to light or sleep disturbance) can precede tendon pathology; synchronized loading and recovery cycles maximize resilience.​

Why Should I Care?:
Exercise strengthens tendons, but healing depends on your body clock, so both your activity and your daily light routine matter.