Treatment and Recovery of Achilles Tendinopathy

population of achilles tendinopathy

older athletes (elite runners)

diagnostic criteria of achilles tendinopathy

pain location, pain during activity, tests that provoke pain, palpation to assess pain

causes of achilles tendinopathy

training errors, greater milage in injured runners

things that can assess tendon health

strength and ROM tests, ultrasound, pain assessments

relationship between structure and symptoms

structural changes increase the likelihood of symptoms and alter function but are not totally related to pain

tendon structure associated with worse function

thickening, lower viscosity

how to use the pain monitoring model to dose exercise

want to be able to achieve higher levels of activity at the same pain level

phases of achilles tendinopathy rehab

symptom management → recovery → rebuilding → RTS

why does stretching not always work for achilles injuries

treat the impairment not the sensation of stiffness, if the capsule is tight mobs will be better than stretching

why does heel lifts reduce achilles tendon pain

it puts the foot in more PF and decreases compression of the tendon

subgroups with greatest functional recovery

activity and function-dominant

subgroup with the greatest impairments in symptoms

psychosocial

relationship between kinesiophobia and symptom severity

higher phobia shows more symptoms, but can be improved with education

relationship between symptom duration and recovery

there were similar outcomes in all groups following 16 weeks of exercise therapy

examples of how personal factors effects risk of tendinopathy

elevated glycated hemoglobin had 3x higher risk in LE, high cholesterol had 1.5x higher risk in UE

return to sport rate after 1 year

55-99%

re-injury rate of achilles tendinopathy in football

27-44%

large contributor to re-injury

short recovery period

how to indicate tendon overuse early before it becomes a bigger issue

examine a change in performance

stiffness related to tendinopathy

related to a sensation not a change in mechanical properties