While this likely represents a critical step in normal tendon healing (Lin et al., 2006; Nakama et al., 2006; Stauber et al., 2020), we propose that extended and excessive IL-6 signaling may causally exacerbate tendinopathy in non-sheathed tendons (Legerlotz et al., 2012). This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and disease of the tendon.