Sex Hormones and Tendon

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

The risk of overuse and traumatic tendon and ligament injuries differ between women and men. Part of this gender difference in injury risk is probably explained by sex hormonal differences which are specifically distinct during the sexual maturation in the teenage years and during young adulthood. The effects of the separate sex hormones are not fully elucidated. However, in women, the presence of estrogen in contrast to very low estrogen levels may be beneficial during regular loading of the tissue or during recovering after an injury, as estrogen can enhance tendon collagen synthesis rate. Yet, in active young female athletes, physiological high concentration of estrogen may enhance the risk of injuries due to reduced fibrillar crosslinking and enhanced joint laxity. In men, testosterone can enhance tendon stiffness due to an enhanced tendon collagen turnover and collagen content, but testosterone has also been linked to a reduced responsiveness to relaxin. The present chapter will focus on sex difference in tendon injury risk, tendon morphology and tendon collagen turnover, but also on the specific effects of estrogen and androgens.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMetabolic influences on risk for tendon disorders
Number of pages11
Volume920
PublisherSpringer
Publication dateAug 2016
Pages139-149
ISBN (Print)9783319339412
ISBN (Electronic)9783319339436
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2016
SeriesAdvances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
ISSN0065-2598

    Research areas

  • Journal Article

ID: 176947747