Issue 9/2022
P. Todorov
Soft tissue rheumatism compromises a group of disorders that produce pain, swelling, functional impairment and sometimes inflammation in the tissues and structures around human joints. These disorders include tendinitis, tenosynovitis, bursitis, capsulitis, enthesitis, fasciopathies, myofascial pain syndrome, and entrapment neuropathies. Pain produced by them is one of the most common rheumatic complaints in the everyday practice.
Most of these pathologies are associated with repetitive low-grade but cumulative trauma from mechanical overloading of the named collagen structures. Subsequent low grade localized inflammation, incomplete healing and degradation of the affected tissues occur. Pathohystology in soft tissue rheumatism reveals areas of simultaneously occurring degenerative and reparative processes and microtears of the collagen fibrils. The history and, more importantly, the physical examination findings are most important in diagnosing soft tissue rheumatism syndromes. In the last years musculoskeletal ultrasound became especially important in the precise diagnosis of the aetiology of soft tissue rheumatism, as it can assess the collagen tissues in great details In the following article, some of the most common soft tissue rheumatic pain syndromes affecting different body regions will be described in detail.
Address for correspondence:
P. Todorov
Plovdiv Medical University, Rheumatology Clinic,
15А „Vasil Aprilov”, Blvd.
4002, Plovdiv, Bulgaria