{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,27]],"date-time":"2026-10-27T16:24:37Z","timestamp":1793118277959,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"4","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Br J Sports Med"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2009,4]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Mechanotransduction is the physiological process where cells sense and respond to mechanical loads. This paper reclaims the term \u201cmechanotherapy\u201d and presents the current scientific knowledge underpinning how load may be used therapeutically to stimulate tissue repair and remodelling in tendon, muscle, cartilage and bone.<\/jats:p>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    The purpose of this short article is to answer a frequently asked question \u201cHow precisely does exercise promote tissue healing?\u201d This is a fundamental question for clinicians who prescribe exercise for tendinopathies, muscle tears, non-inflammatory arthropathies and even controlled loading after fractures. High-quality randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews show that various forms of exercise or movement prescription benefit patients with a wide range of musculoskeletal problems.1\n                    <jats:sup>\u2013<\/jats:sup>\n                    4 But what happens at the tissue level to promote repair and remodelling of tendon, muscle, articular cartilage and bone?\n                  <\/jats:p>\n                  <jats:p>The one-word answer is \u201cmechanotransduction\u201d, but rather than finishing there and limiting this paper to 95 words, we provide a short illustrated introduction to this remarkable, ubiquitous, non-neural, physiological process. We also re-introduce the term \u201cmechanotherapy\u201d to distinguish therapeutics (exercise prescription specifically to treat injuries) from the homeostatic role of mechanotransduction. Strictly speaking, mechanotransduction maintains normal musculoskeletal structures in the absence of injury. After first outlining the process of mechanotransduction, we provide well-known clinical therapeutic examples of mechanotherapy\u2013turning movement into tissue healing.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsm.2008.054239","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2009,2,25]],"date-time":"2009-02-25T20:25:37Z","timestamp":1235593537000},"page":"247-252","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":363,"title":["Mechanotherapy: how physical therapists\u2019 prescription of exercise promotes tissue repair"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"43","author":[{"given":"K M","family":"Khan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"A","family":"Scott","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2009,2,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2165\/00007256-200838070-00003"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"450","DOI":"10.1093\/ptj\/86.3.450","article-title":"Is there evidence to support the use of eccentric strengthening exercises to decrease pain and increase function in patients with patellar tendinopathy?","volume":"86","author":"Rabin","year":"2006","journal-title":"Phys Ther"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.1016\/S0004-9514(05)70036-2","article-title":"Effectiveness of exercise therapy: A best-evidence summary of systematic reviews.","volume":"51","author":"Smidt","year":"2005","journal-title":"Aust J Physiother"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1208","DOI":"10.1093\/ptj\/85.11.1208","article-title":"Progressive resistance exercise in physical therapy: A summary of systematic reviews.","volume":"85","author":"Taylor","year":"2005","journal-title":"Phys Ther"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00302070"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0021-9290(68)90037-7"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.7","first-page":"70","article-title":"Early responses to mechanical load in tendon: Role for calcium signaling, gap junctions and intercellular communication.","volume":"5","author":"Wall","year":"2005","journal-title":"J Musculoskeletal Neuronal Interact"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/jcp.20107"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1042\/BST0351312"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0736-0266(02)00038-4"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Banes AJ Tzsuzaki M Wall ME . In: Woo SL Renstrom P Arnoczky SP , eds. The molecular biology of tendinopathy: signaling and response pathways in tenocytes, in tendinopathy in athletes Malden: Blackwell Publishing, 2007.","DOI":"10.1002\/9780470757987.ch3"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejcb.2006.06.002"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"139","DOI":"10.1615\/CritRevEukarGeneExpr.v18.i2.30","article-title":"Regulation of chondrocytic gene expression by biomechanical signals.","volume":"18","author":"Knobloch","year":"2008","journal-title":"Crit Rev Eukaryot Gene Expr"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.14","unstructured":"Alberts B Johnson A Lewis J . Molecular biology of the cell. New York: Garland Science, 2002."},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.276.5317.1425"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/33719"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/13043"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/35023621"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.orthres.2005.04.001"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"181","DOI":"10.1080\/03008200390215881","article-title":"Effect of amplitude and frequency of cyclic tensile strain on the inhibition of MMP-1 mRNA expression in tendon cells: An in vitro study.","volume":"44","author":"Lavagnino","year":"2003","journal-title":"Connect Tissue Res"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"603","DOI":"10.1249\/00005768-199305000-00012","article-title":"Effects of repetitive motion on human fibroblasts.","volume":"25","author":"Almekinders","year":"1993","journal-title":"Med Sci Sports Exerc"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0736-0266(01)00075-4"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0021-9290(01)00217-2"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0021-9290(95)00098-4"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Banes AJ Weinhold P Yang X . Gap junctions regulate responses of tendon cells ex vivo to mechanical loading. Clin Orthop 1999;(367 Suppl):S356\u00e2\u0080\u009370.","DOI":"10.1097\/00003086-199910001-00034"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/jcb.10534"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1177\/1358863X9700200104","article-title":"Changes in the amplitude of cyclic load biphasically modulate endothelial cell DNA synthesis and division.","volume":"2","author":"Upchurch","year":"1997","journal-title":"Vasc Med"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"439","DOI":"10.1016\/S0934-8832(11)80088-0","article-title":"Verapamil decreases cyclic load-induced calcium incorporation in ros 17\/2.8 osteosarcoma cell cultures.","volume":"12","author":"Vadiakas","year":"1992","journal-title":"Matrix"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.3109\/03008200109014245","article-title":"Response of rabbit achilles tendon to chronic repetitive loading.","volume":"42","author":"Archambault","year":"2001","journal-title":"Connect Tissue Res"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.30","first-page":"153","article-title":"Mechanobiology: Similarities and differences between in vivo and in vitro analysis at the functional and molecular levels.","volume":"2","author":"Hart","year":"2002","journal-title":"Recent Res Devel Biophys Biochem"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/art.22426"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1139\/o04-124"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/ar.1092190104"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/ar.a.10119"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsm.2008.054825"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.36","first-page":"1","article-title":"Physical inactivity: the biggest public health problem of the 21st century.","volume":"43","author":"Blair","year":"2009","journal-title":"Br J Sports Med"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1152\/japplphysiol.00636.2005"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1152\/japplphysiol.00866.2006"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1152\/japplphysiol.01205.2005"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsm.2001.000284"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"80","DOI":"10.1197\/j.jht.2005.01.009","article-title":"Recent progress in flexor tendon healing. The modulation of tendon healing with rehabilitation variables.","volume":"18","author":"Boyer","year":"2005","journal-title":"J Hand Ther"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1026041228041"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.berh.2006.12.004"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s001670050154"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"247","DOI":"10.1016\/S0004-9514(07)70005-3","article-title":"Cyclic pneumatic soft-tissue compression enhances recovery following fracture of the distal radius: A randomised controlled trial.","volume":"53","author":"Challis","year":"2007","journal-title":"Aust J Physiother"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2106\/JBJS.E.00529"},{"key":"2024051313421030000_43.4.247.47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"183","DOI":"10.1097\/01.blo.0000149994.58542.c9","article-title":"Effect of cyclic pneumatic soft tissue compression on simulated distal radius fractures.","volume":"433","author":"Challis","year":"2005","journal-title":"Clin Orthop Relat Res"}],"container-title":["British Journal of Sports Medicine"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/bjsm.2008.054239","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,13]],"date-time":"2024-05-13T16:42:32Z","timestamp":1715618552000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/bjsm.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/bjsm.2008.054239"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2009,2,24]]},"references-count":47,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2009,4,14]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2009,4]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/bjsm.2008.054239"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bjsm.2008.054239","relation":{},"ISSN":["0306-3674","1473-0480"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0306-3674","type":"print"},{"value":"1473-0480","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2009,2,24]]}}}