Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42496412›Full record

ReviewJournal of functional morphology and kinesiology2026

Effects of Mechanical Loading on the Structure and Function of the Achilles Tendon: From Homeostatic Adaptation to Pathological Degeneration.

Linshu Guan, Weijian Zhang, Haoliang Wang, Yizhe Zhang, Jiachen Sun, Jun Lu

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Linshu GuanSchool of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
Weijian ZhangSchool of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.ORCID 0009-0002-4265-4494
Haoliang WangSchool of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
Yizhe ZhangSchool of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
Jiachen SunSchool of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.ORCID 0000-0002-5478-6198
Jun LuSchool of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82272557Research Personnel Cultivation Programme of Zhongda Hospital Southeast University CZXM-GSP-RC44Youth Fund of Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology BK20230841
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The Achilles tendon, the largest and strongest tendon in the human body, exhibits dynamic adaptive changes in its structure and function through mechanobiological regulation. This review synthesizes the dual regulatory effects of mechanical loading on Achilles tendon homeostasis and pathology: Moderate mechanical stimulation activates integrin-mediated signaling pathways (including PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK cascades), promoting tenocyte proliferation/differentiation, collagen biosynthesis, and orderly remodeling of extracellular matrix (ECM), thereby enhancing tendon stiffness, elastic modulus, and ultimate tensile strength. Conversely, chronic overload or disuse conditions induce collagen disorganization, aberrant matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression, and inflammatory cascades, creating a predisposition to tendinopathy and degenerative disorders. Emerging evidence highlights the critical role of mechanotransduction in injury repair, with early-stage progressive loading regimens demonstrating enhanced healing outcomes through optimized ECM metabolism and biomechanical signal propagation. Clinically, individualized load management strategies, including blood flow restriction training and biomaterial-assisted mechanomodulation, show promise in injury prevention and rehabilitation. Future research integrating multi-omics approaches with intelligent load-monitoring technologies may clarify mechanobiological coupling mechanisms and facilitate precision interventions for Achilles tendon disorders.

Indexed as

Achilles tendonbiomechanicsmechanical loadingrehabilitationtendinopathytendon healing

Identifiers

PMID42496412
PMCPMC13397875

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.