Tendons are the unsung heroes of movement, bridging the gap between muscle and bone to transfer force and power. Yet, they’re often misunderstood or overlooked until something goes wrong – whether it’s an annoying ache or a serious injury. If you’ve ever wondered why your tendons hurt, what they need to thrive, or how to prevent injuries in the first place, this article has you covered.
When I wrote the original version of this blog in 2024, I had been through achilles, hamstring, and glute med/TFL tendinopathies. I thought I had a pretty good understanding of tendons – both from the research and from living it.
Then 2026 happened.
I’m now dealing with a left proximal hamstring tendinopathy after having resolved everything else. (It turns out I’m now great at rehabbing tendons but not great at preventing new ones from getting annoyed at me despite all my strength training!). My full tendinopathy history at this point reads like a textbook case study: both patellar tendinopathies, left achilles tendinopathy, bilateral proximal hamstring tendinopathies, and bilateral glute med and TFL tendinopathies. My physiotherapist and I are fairly convinced I have a genetic predisposition for this, because it keeps happening despite what most people would consider modest training volumes.
That’s both humbling and, honestly, fascinating – because it means I’ve had to learn tendon rehab at a depth that goes beyond textbooks. This updated version reflects everything I’ve learned since 2024, with hard-won updates in every section that was worth updating.
