Episode 18 (The Down Week): Loading Strategies for Achilles Tendon Injuries

Ready to Run

Our goal in this week's Down Week episode of the Ready to Run Podcast is to sort through the literature on Achilles tendinopathy and provide practical rehabilitation strategies for the athlete with acute reactive tendinopathy and chronic recurring degenerative tendinopathy.

We'll also highlight some of the key articles on Achilles tendinopathy rehabilitation as well as a few other considerations including the role of the forefoot and load management strategies for the runner returning from Achilles injury.

What we talked about:

1:15- Outlining achilles tendon injuries

3:05- Initial examinations of a patient with achilles pain

7:05- Load management

15:45- Rehab strategies

32:50- Restoring stability

35:00- Mobility, stability, and strength

37:30- Degenerative changes in the tendon

References:

• Alfredson H, Pietilä T, Jonsson P, Lorentzon R. Heavy-Load Eccentric Calf Muscle Training For the Treatment of Chronic Achilles Tendinosis. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 1998;26(3):360-366. doi:10.1177/03635465980260030301
• Beyer R, Kongsgaard M, Hougs Kjær B, Øhlenschlæger T, Kjær M, Magnusson SP. Heavy Slow Resistance Versus Eccentric Training as Treatment for Achilles Tendinopathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Sports Med. 2015 Jul;43(7):1704-11.
• Ganderton, Charlotte, et al. "Achilles tendinopathy: Understanding the key concepts to improve clinical management." Australasian Musculoskeletal Medicine 19.2 (2015): 12-18.
• Rio E, Kidgell D, Moseley GL, Gaida J, Docking S, Purdam C, Cook J. Tendon neuroplastic training: changing the way we think about tendon rehabilitation: a narrative review. Br J Sports Med. 2016 Feb;50(4):209-15.