the current understanding of how tendons respond to loading, unloading, ageing and injury

A muscle contract, transfers load across the tendon into the attachment to another bone on the other side of a joint, sometimes across 2 joints. There can be a mechanical flaw/injury in the muscle or tendon, or the joint, if inflamed, can neurologically inhibit that muscle-tendon team. The journal abstract has a nice diagram looking at the potential cellular and molecular changes at the tendon interval.
"Here we review the current understanding of how tendons respond to loading, unloading, ageing and injury from cellular, molecular and mechanical points of view. "- S. Peter Magnusson, Michael Kjaer

https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/JP275450

Subtle clues to flexor dominance

Take a close look at these photographs. Compare the prominence of the extensor tendon‘s left to right. What do you see? Do you notice the deeper furrowing of the extensor tendons on the left? Do you see the subtle increased extension of the metatarsophalangeal and requisite increased flexion of the inter-phalangeal articulations, left versus right? What about the height of the arches?

Keep a keen eye out for subtle signs. They can make a real difference in your clinical diagnosis and results…