This issue of MLTJ seeks to involve expert authors in the knowledge of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the tendons.
This journal and scientific societies behind us: European Federation of Sport Traumatology (EFOST) and Italian Society of Muscles Ligaments and Tendons (I.S.Mu.L.T.) are heavily involved in supporting and promoting the study of ECM tendons1–3.
We believe that only through the clarification of the microanatomy, pathophysiology, genetics of ECM we may be able to improve current therapeutic knowledge on tendon diseases.
Unfortunately, today too often the media and some areas of medicine offer to the patients new medical therapy based on tissue regeneration of tendons without scientific certainty of the effectiveness.
We think that the main effort of the research at this time should be focused not only on the in vivo application of new potential therapies but also and especially on the mechanisms that regulate the homeostasis of the ECM during exercise and pathologic conditions.
This issue is only a first step that we hope to continue to encourage basic scientists to work in a translational way with clinicians in order to clarify the many dark sides of this exciting field.
References
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