How many runners with new-onset Achilles tendinopathy develop persisting symptoms? A large prospective cohort study

Review written by Dr Jarred Boyd info

Key Points

  1. Runners who accumulated greater running distance per week prior to the infliction point of Achilles tendinopathy development demonstrated a lower risk of acquiring persistent tendon symptomology.
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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

It is frequently postulated that exceeding tissue capacity, particularly cumulative mechanical overload, commonly manifests as tendinopathy (1). Considering the contribution on the energy storage-release mechanism during locomotive activity, tendinopathy of the Achilles is a prevalent lower limb injury that especially encumbers runners (2).

The development of Achilles tendinopathy presents as a challenging pathology as there are not only structural but functional ramifications that may persist long after the original onset of symptomology (3). The aim of this study was to determine how many runners acquired persistent symptoms one year after initial onset. An additional intention of this study was to uncover the potential prognostic variables contributing to symptom persistence.

Achilles tendinopathy is a prevalent lower limb injury that especially encumbers runners.
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Exposure to higher volumes of running load appears to develop protective qualities, serving as an “antivirus” to injury vulnerability.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study consisting of runners who developed newly acquired Achilles tendinopathy either prior to, or one month after a running event, where the event was 5 - 42.2km in length. After one year a follow-up questionnaire

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