How smoking affects the healing of rotator cuff tendons
Effects of Smoking on the Rotator Cuff Tendon-Bone Enthesis
This study looks at how smoking affects the healing of shoulder tendons in rats, aiming to understand why smoking might make it harder for these tendons to recover, which could help improve treatments for people with shoulder injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Clemson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Clemson, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10912644 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of cigarette smoking on the healing process of rotator cuff tendons, specifically focusing on the tendon-bone interface known as the enthesis. Using a rat model, the study employs a custom-built smoking chamber to simulate realistic smoking conditions, allowing researchers to analyze the mechanical properties and structural changes of the enthesis. The goal is to better understand how smoking contributes to tendon degeneration and impaired healing, which could inform future treatment strategies for affected patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adults who smoke and are at risk for rotator cuff injuries or have existing tendon issues.
Not a fit: Patients who do not smoke and do not have rotator cuff injuries may not receive direct benefits from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment options and recovery strategies for patients with rotator cuff injuries who smoke.
How similar studies have performed: While the effects of smoking on various health conditions are well-documented, this specific approach to studying its impact on rotator cuff healing is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
Clemson, United States
- Clemson University — Clemson, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Meng, Zhaoxu — Clemson University
- Study coordinator: Meng, Zhaoxu
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.