Comparative features of disease in functionally distinct tendons
| Feature | Achilles tendon disease | Shoulder tendon disease |
| Symptom duration | Acute or chronic | Frequently chronic |
| Type of disease | Tendinopathic or ruptured | Tendinopathic or torn |
| Typical time to clinical presentation | Days to weeks (rupture), months to years (tendinopathic) | Months to years |
| Inflammation changes with type of disease | Yes | Yes |
| Inflammation changes after treatment in asymptomatic patients | Unknown | Yes |