Abstract
Musculoskeletal injuries have a considerable socio-economic impact and are increasing in prevalence. Previous work has identified several intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors contributing to injury susceptibility. Recent work has identified a role for epigenetics as a contributing mechanism to the susceptibility of musculoskeletal soft tissue injuries. The current chapter focuses on new development in the epigenetics arena towards understanding the risk of musculoskeletal soft tissue injuries. Using case-control association studies, differential DNA methylation and miRNA profiles were observed in the context of patellar tendinopathy, rotator cuff tendon tears, Achilles tendon injuries, and anterior cruciate ligament ruptures. Moreover, clinical and ethical implications of epigenetic research and testing remain a central theme and were discussed. The recent development in this field suggests that it is plausible that epigenetic modifications may modulate extracellular matrix proteins’ function and/or expression, thereby contributing to musculoskeletal soft tissue injuries.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Epigenetics of Exercise and Sports |
| Subtitle of host publication | Concepts, Methods, and Current Research |
| Publisher | Elsevier Inc. |
| Chapter | 11 |
| Pages | 235-246 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9780128206829 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2021 |
Bibliographical note
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