Patient-specific factors that influence recovery from rotator cuff tendinopathy
Official title: Patient-Specific Factors of Recovery in Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11357704 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand why some people recover better from shoulder tendon problems than others and how to tailor resistance exercise to each person.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $201,155 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR083626-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11357704 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with rotator cuff tendinopathy undergoing resistance exercise as part of standard care.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose pain is not primarily related to tendon structure or who cannot participate in resistance exercise may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how tendon healing, pain experience, and psychological factors affect outcomes after shoulder pain due to rotator cuff tendinopathy. Researchers will explore how muscle function, brain pain processing, and beliefs about pain influence the ability to perform and benefit from resistance exercise. The study will connect changes in tendon structure with patient-reported pain and disability to guide personalized treatment. By identifying factors that predict who benefits most, care can be better tailored to individual needs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, care for rotator cuff tendinopathy could be personalized to improve pain relief and function.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work supports that tendon response to loading and pain processing influence outcomes, with room for larger, patient-specific approaches.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Michener, Lori Ann — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Michener, Lori Ann
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Personalized Achilles tendon rehab: how loading in daily life affects healing
A person with mid-substance Achilles tendinopathy could benefit from a personalized rehab plan based on how their daily activities load the tendon.
-
Achilles Tendinopathy Center of Translation
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-
Understanding the muscle-subtendon units in Achilles tendinopathy
This project explores why Achilles tendinopathy affects people differently by looking closely at the ankle’s tendon structure and how it responds to treatments.
-
Exosome-based biologic treatment for tendinopathy
A new exosome-based therapy called Altenex aims to treat tendinopathy safely and effectively in adults.
-
Quantifying Achilles Tendon Stress in Dancers to Prevent Tendinopathy
Aimed at female ballet dancers, this project will measure Achilles tendon stress during dance and develop better tools to monitor pain and guide injury prevention and recovery.
-
Role of CaV1.2 calcium channels in Achilles tendinopathy
This grant explores how a calcium channel called CaV1.2 may drive tendinopathy in the Achilles tendon and what this could mean for new treatments.
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.