Effects of short-term treatment strategies over 4 weeks in Achilles tendinopathy. Issue 7 (29th January 2007)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mayer, Frank; Hirschmüller, Anja; Müller, Steffen; Schuberth, Martin; Baur, Heiner
• Is Part Of: British journal of sports medicine. Volume 41:Issue 7(2007)
• Page Start: e6
• Page End: e6
• Publication Date: 2007-01-29
• Subjects: AT, Achilles tendinopathy -- C, control group -- I, group wearing insoles -- IAT, individual's anaerobic threshold -- P, group undergoing physiotherapy -- PDI, Pain Disability Index -- PES, Pain Experience Scale; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; 617.1027
• DOI: 10.1136/bjsm.2006.031732
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-3674

Abstract

Abstract : Background: The therapeutic efficacy of non-surgical treatment strategies in Achilles tendinopathy (AT) has not been well clarified. Time-consuming and costly combinations of treatment for pain, physiotherapy and biomechanical procedures are often applied. Objective: To analyse the efficacy of single therapeutic regimens commonly used over a short period of 4 weeks. Methods: 31 male runners (mileage >32 km/week) with unilateral, untreated AT completed 4 weeks of either physiotherapy (10 treatments: deep-friction, pulsed ultrasound, ice, sensory motor training; (P)), wearing custom fit semirigid insoles (I) or remained without treatment (control group C). Before and after treatment, all patients underwent a treadmill test and a plantar flexion strength exercise. Subjective pain (Pain Disability Index, Pain Experience Scale), as well as strength performance capacity (peak torque), was analysed (mean, 95% CI, repeated measures analysis of variance, α = 0.05). Results: Pain was reduced to <50% of the baseline value after physiotherapy or after wearing insoles (p<0.05). Individual pain reduction was >50% (25%) in 89% (100%) of subjects in I and 55% (73%) in P. Higher eccentric plantar flexion peak torques after treatment were observed in I and P. Conclusions: Most patients with AT experience a reduction in pain after only 4 weeks of differentiated, non-surgical treatment consisting of physiotherapy or semirigid insoles.