Achilles Tendinopathy Patients Research Articles

Physiotherapy Management for Cases of Achilles Tendinopathy in Indonesian Para Athletics Athletes : Case Report

Achilles tendinopathy is a degenerative process due to excessive and cumulative use of microtrauma with internal and external risk factor. Approximately 52% of runners experience an Achilles tendinopathy (AT) injury during their lifetime. Achilles Tendinopathy can limit Indonesia's athletic performance due to pain on the side of the knee during running, walking and jumping. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiotherapy management for Achilles Tendinopathy cases in Indonesian para-athletics. This research is a descriptive case studyinvolving one client with participatory observation. The physiotherapy intervention involved modality intervention using Eccentric exercises, ESWT, Stretching, Muscle release, Electrical Stimulation, and Cryotheraphy. The subject of the study was An. B, a 28 year old para athlete with height 182 cm, weight 77 kg, and BMI 23.3 in the ideal category. The patient came to the physiotherapy clinic of NPC Indonesia on 20 August 2023 with complaints of pain and burning in the left leg. Physical examination showed normal results except for pain examination using Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), where silent pain 0/10, tenderness 9/10, and motion pain 7/10 were found. The diagnosis of Achilles Tendinopathy sinistra was confirmed through specific examination. After four physiotherapy sessions Based on the results of studies that have been carried out, ESWT and Eccentric exercise can reduce pain, increase joint range of motion, increase muscle strength, increase ankle stability and improve functional abilities in Achilles tendinopathy patients.

Clinical Association of Achilles Tendinopathy and Hypertension Mediated by CaV1.2 Voltage-gated Ca2+ Channel

Category: Basic Sciences/Biologics; Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: The Achilles tendon is subject to acute- and overuse-injuries, which may result in degenerative tendinopathy. Achilles tendinopathy is associated with pain, disability, and functional limitations. While some patients benefit from therapy and conservative measures, many progress to operative intervention. The pathogenic mechanisms of Achilles tendinopathy are largely unknown. Using novel transgenic mouse models with CaV1.2 (a voltage gated calcium channel) wildtype or a gain-of-function mutant channel, we observed potent regulatory effects of increased Ca2+ influx through CaV1.2 on Achilles tendinopathy development. CaV1.2 expression and activity has also been shown to contribute to hypertension amongst other systemic disease. We hypothesized that aberrant CaV1.2 function is a common pathogenic mechanism both hypertension and Achilles tendinopathy. To test this hypothesis, we performed an association study between two diseases. Methods: A case-control study was performed to investigate the association between Achilles tendinopathy and hypertension using TriNetX mulit-center clinical database. We identified Achilles tendinopathy and hypertension patients based on their ICD-10 codes. Chi-squared test, odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to detect the correlation between these two diseases. To elucidate the role of CaV1.2 in the association of Achilles tendinopathy and hypertension, we performed a retrospective cohort study with the exposure cohort defined as all subjects with hypertension and a calcium channel blocker (CCB) prescription preceding a diagnosed tendinopathy from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2015. A matched cohort was defined as the subjects with hypertension but on medications other than CCBs. A 7-year follow-up was obtained for the outcome Achilles tendinopathy. Relative risk (RR) and hazard ratio (HR) were used to detect the effect of CCBs and other anti- hypertensives on the development of tendinopathy. Results: We determined that hypertension is more prevalent in patients with Achilles tendinopathy (42.4%) compared to those without (12.6%). The incidence of Achilles tendinopathy is significantly correlated with hypertension (p < 0.0001; OR=3.17, 95%CI=3.11-3.22). Furthermore, hypertension patients on CCBs had a 28% decrease in Achilles tendinopathy risk when compared with hypertensive patients on medications other than CCBs (RR=0.72, 95%CI=0.60-0.86, p< 0.0001). A cox proportional hazards model corroborated the findings, with hypertensive patients on CCBs having 26% decreased incidence of Achilles tendinopathy than patients on other medications (HR=0.74, 95%CI=0.62-0.88, p< 0.0001). In contrast, we found no significant effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (no direct effect on Calcium channel activity) on the incidence of Achilles tendinopathy (HR=0.99, 95%CI=0.88-1.10, p=0.8273). Conclusion: There may be a correlation between Achilles tendinopathy and other common systemic diseases such as hypertension, as well as potential treatment pathways. Our study of the TriNetX clinical database provides evidence that CaV1.2 expression/activity is a potential molecular mechanism underlying Achilles tendinopathy. Additionally, an effect of CCBs in hypertensive patients may be to lower the incidence of Achilles tendinopathy by inhibiting L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channel (including CaV1.2) signaling in tenocytes. Our finding will provide a rationale for further investigation of this association, including a potential for repurposing FDA-approved generic CCBs to prevent or treat Achilles tendinopathy.

Efficiency of rehabilitation in limb asymmetries of achilles tendinopathy female patients

We want to learn more about inter-limb asymmetries in Achilles tendinopathy patients since they have been linked to increased injury risk. We evaluated the effects of a 8-week exercise intervention on inter-limb asymmetries of mechanical, material, and morphological musculoskel et al. characteristics and function in patients with Achilles tendinopathy (n = 44). Additionally, we investigated the relationship between asymmetry reductions and better patient-reported outcomes. At baseline, tendons with tendinopathy showed decreased tendon force (p = 0.013), decreased tendon stress (p 0.0001), greater tendon cross-sectional area (p 0.001), and higher intratendinous (p = 0.022) and tendon overall (p = 0.018) vascularization. PRE-to-POST asymmetry comparisons for the high-load group showed an increase in asymmetry for the counter-movement jump. The tendinopathic appendage contrasts from the asymptomatic leg while helpful activity mediations meaningfully affect imbalances.

In Achilles Tendinopathy the Symptomatic Tendon Differs from the Asymptomatic Tendon While Exercise Therapy Has Little Effect on Asymmetries-An Ancillary Analysis of Data from a Controlled Clinical Trial.

As inter-limb asymmetries can be associated with higher injury risk, we aimed to investigate their role in Achilles tendinopathy patients. In Achilles tendinopathy patients (n = 41), we assessed inter-limb asymmetries of mechanical, material, and morphological musculoskeletal properties and function and how those were affected by 12 weeks of exercise intervention (high-load protocol, n = 13; Alfredson protocol, n = 11). Moreover, we assessed whether asymmetry reductions correlated with improved Patient-Reported Outcomes (VISA-A score). At baseline, tendinopathic tendons demonstrated lower tendon force (p = 0.017), lower tendon stress (p < 0.0001), larger tendon cross-sectional area (CSA) (p < 0.001), and increased intratendinous (p = 0.042) and tendon overall (p = 0.021) vascularization. For the high-load group, PRE-to-POST asymmetry comparisons revealed an asymmetry increase for the counter-movement jump (CMJ) (p = 0.034) and PRE-to-POST VISA-A score improvements correlated with CSA asymmetry reductions (p = 0.024). Within the Alfredson group, PRE-to-POST VISA-A score improvements correlated with CMJ asymmetry reductions (p = 0.044) and tendon stiffness asymmetry increases (p = 0.037). POST-to-POST in-between group comparisons revealed lower asymmetry in the high-load group for tendon elongation (p = 0.021) and tendon strain (p = 0.026). The tendinopathic limb differs from the asymptomatic limb while therapeutic exercise interventions have little effect on asymmetries. Asymmetry reductions are not necessarily associated with tendon health improvements.

Regional shear wave elastography of Achilles tendinopathy in symptomatic versus contralateral Achilles tendons.

Ultrasound often corroborates clinical diagnosis of Achilles tendinopathy (AT). Traditional measures assess macromorphological features or use qualitative grading scales, primarily focused within the free tendon. Shear wave imaging can non-invasively quantify tendon elasticity, yet it is unknown if proximal structures are affected by tendon pathology. The purpose of the study was to determine the characteristics of both traditional sonographic measures and regional shear wave speed (SWS) between limbs in patients with AT. Twenty patients with chronic AT were recruited. Traditional sonographic measures of tendon structure were measured. Regional SWS was collected in a resting ankle position along the entire length of the tendon bilaterally. SWS measures were extracted and interpolated across evenly distributed points corresponding to the free tendon (FT), soleus aponeurosis (SA), and gastrocnemius aponeurosis (GA). Comparisons were made between limbs in both traditional sonographic measures and regional SWS. Symptomatic tendons were thicker (10.2 (1.9) vs. 6.8 (1.8) mm; p < 0.001) and had more hyperemia (p = 0.001) and hypoechogenicity (p = 0.002) than the contralateral tendon. Regional SWS in the FT was lower in the symptomatic limb compared to the contralateral limb (11.53 [10.99, 12.07] vs. 10.97 [10.43, 11.51]; p = 0.03). No differences between limbs were found for the SA (p = 0.13) or GA (p = 0.99). Lower SWS was only observed in the FT in AT patients, indicating that alterations in tendon elasticity associated with AT were localized to the FT and did not involve the proximal passive tendon structures. • Baseline characteristics of a pilot sample of 20 subjects suffering from chronic Achilles tendinopathy showed differences in conventional sonographic measures of tendon thickness, qualitatively assessed hypoechogenicity, hyperemia, and quantitative measures of shear wave speed. • Regional shear wave speeds were lower in the free tendon but not in the proximal regions of the soleus or gastrocnemius aponeuroses in Achilles tendinopathy patients. • Using shear wave imaging to estimate tendon stiffness may prove beneficial for clinical validation studies to address important topics such as return to activity and the effectiveness of rehabilitation protocols.

Clinical Impact of Metabolic Syndrome on Eccentric Exercises for Chronic Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy

Metabolic syndrome is one factor known to contribute to the development of tendinopathies. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of eccentric calf-muscle exercise for treatment of chronic insertional Achilles tendinopathy in patients with or without metabolic syndrome. Twenty-eight patients with chronic insertional Achilles tendinopathy and metabolic syndrome who performed eccentric calf-muscle exercise were retrospectively compared with 28 age- and sex-matched controls without metabolic syndrome. Comparisons between the 2 groups were made by evaluating the Visual Analog Scale for pain, patient satisfaction, and amount of pain medications needed during 3 months of follow-up. Two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures showed that the pain scales in the metabolic syndrome group were higher than those in the control group during the follow-up period (F[1,54]=24.45, p < .001). The patient satisfaction ratings were lower and the amount of required pain medication was higher in the metabolic syndrome group (p < .001 and p < .001, respectively). Eccentric calf-muscle exercises for chronic insertional Achilles tendinopathy were less effective in patients with metabolic syndrome. Therefore, these patients should be managed with a combination of other treatment modalities rather than eccentric exercise alone.

The Diagnostic Significance of Ultrasonographic Measurement of the Achilles Tendon Thickness for the Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy in Patients with Heel Pain.

No consensus exists concerning the diagnostic role or cutoff value of the Achilles tendon thickness on ultrasonography (US) for the diagnosis of insertional Achilles tendinopathy. This study sought to assess the diagnostic utility of US measurement of the thickness and echogenicity of the Achilles tendon for the insertional Achilles tendinopathy in patients with heel pain, and to compare the results with those of the plantar fascia for the plantar fasciitis. We conducted US examinations in consecutive patients who presented with unilateral or bilateral heel pain at the foot clinic of a single tertiary hospital from February 2016 to December 2020. Each US evaluation assessed the thickness and echogenicity of the insertion area of the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia. We retrospectively compared these parameters between patients with insertional Achilles tendinopathy or plantar fasciitis and normal controls and analyzed the diagnostic utility of these parameters. Based on clinical diagnosis, 44 feet were diagnosed with insertional Achilles tendinopathy, 109 feet were diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, and 32 feet were classified as normal. There was a significant difference in the thickness of the plantar fascia between the plantar fasciitis and normal control groups (p = 0.032). There was also a significant difference in the echogenicity of the plantar fascia between the plantar fasciitis and normal groups (p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the thickness of the insertional area of the Achilles tendon between the insertional Achilles tendinopathy and normal groups (p = 0.132). There was a significant difference in the echogenicity of the insertional area of the Achilles tendon between the insertional Achilles tendinopathy and normal groups (p < 0.001). US measurement of the thickness of the insertional area of the Achilles tendon might not reflect the clinical status of insertional Achilles tendinopathy, unlike that of plantar fasciitis.

Insertional Achilles tendinopathy in patients with Haglund's syndrome: results of computer modeling and biomechanical research

In this study, a biomechanical relationship was found between the pathological process in Haglund syndrome and secondary tendinopathy of the Achilles tendon. We have developed the calculation diagram, created computer models and determined the values of the stress-strain state of the rear foot structures in the normal and with Haglund syndrome. It was found that the maximum stress values are concentrated on the Achilles tendon, but in pathological model the stress values were significantly higher than normal in the whole range of motion of the foot. Normally, maximal stress on the calcaneus is localized on its posterior surface - on the anterior surface of the retrocalcaneal recess. In Haglund syndrome, maximum stress was recorded on the upper surface of the posterior sections of the calcaneus. Haglund syndrome is marked by overloading of the calf muscle. The results of this study explain the development of degenerative changes in the AT in patients with Haglund syndrome. It was also found that the enlarged posterior-upper part of the calcaneus is a factor in the development of insertional Achilles tendinopathy, which should also be considered when choosing further treatment.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the VISA-A questionnaire for Portuguese-speaking (Portugal) patients with Achilles tendinopathy

Abstract Introduction Achilles tendinopathy is considered one of the most frequent injuries in individuals who practice regular physical activity, thus the existence of an instrument that allows the evaluation of the degree of severity of the lesion is important. The VISA-A was developed for English-speaking population to evaluate patients with this condition, and there is a need to adapt this tool to Portuguese (Portugal). Objectives To cross-cultural adapt and validate the VISA-A questionnaire for Portuguese-speaking (Portugal) Achilles tendinopathy patients. Methodology The VISA-A questionnaire was translated and cross-culturally adapted into Portuguese (VISA-A-Por) according to specific guidelines, using six steps: Translation, synthesis, back translation, expert committee review, pretesting (n = 10), and appraisal of the adaptation process. The resulting VISA-A-Por was then subjected to an analysis of the psychometric properties (construct validity, reproducibility [agreement and reliability], internal consistency and floor and ceiling effects) in 57 Achilles tendinopathy patients and 58 asymptomatic people. Participants completed the questionnaire at baseline and after a minimum interval of 48 hours. Results The Visa-A-Por semantic and content validity was considered good by the expert committee and has construct validity shown by the differences between groups (p &amp;lt; 0,001). The questionnaire presented good internal consistency, with a Cronbach α of 0,88. Concerning reproducibility, agreement levels were considered optimal which can be verified in the Bland Altman graph, the standard error measurement (6,49) and the minimally important change (17,99 points), as well as the excellent ICC value (0,88). No ceiling-floor effect was found. Conclusion The VISA-A-Por questionnaire has been shown to be equivalent to the original questionnaire, which indicates that it is a valid and reliable measure for the evaluation of the severity and functional impact of patellar tendinopathy in Portuguese-speaking (Portugal) patients.

Dorsal wedge calcaneal osteotomy as surgical treatment for insertional Achilles tendinopathy

ObjectiveThe dorsal wedge calcaneal osteotomy aims to reduce the length of the calcaneus and elevate the insertion of the Achilles tendon, leading to a reduction of Achilles tension in its insertion. The purpose of this study is to assess the clinical and functional results of this osteotomy in patients with insertional Achilles tendinopathy and a high calcaneal inclination angle. Material and methodsThis is a retrospective study with 18 patients diagnosed with insertional Achilles tendinopathy, who were treated by dorsal wedge calcaneal osteotomy, excision of the wedge and fixation with 2 cannulated screws. The VAS, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot, VISA-A and patient satisfaction scales were performed preoperatively and postoperatively.The radiological parameters analysed were the calcaneal inclination angle, the calcaneal length and the Fowler–Philips angle.A statistical analysis was performed.The mean follow-up was 18.3 months (range 14–36). ResultsAll patients reported relief from symptoms. The VAS scale improved from 8.25 to 2.16 points; and the AOFAS score rose from 41.5 to 86.5 points (p<.05). The presence of tendon spurs on postoperative X-rays was not related to the clinical improvement. ConclusionsBased on the results that we present, the dorsal wedge calcaneal osteotomy can be considered an alternative procedure for insertional Achilles tendinopathy in patients with a high calcaneal inclination angle. The symptomatic relief of all the patients might be secondary to the reduction of the tendon tension in its insertion.

Osteotomía calcánea con cuña de sustracción dorsal como tratamiento quirúrgico en la tendinopatía insercional de Aquiles

ObjectiveThe dorsal wedge calcaneal osteotomy aims to reduce the length of the calcaneus and elevate the insertion of the Achilles tendon, leading to a reduction of Achilles tension in its insertion. The purpose of this study is to assess the clinical and functional results of this osteotomy in patients with insertional Achilles tendinopathy and a high calcaneal inclination angle. Material and methodsThis is a retrospective study with 18 patients diagnosed with insertional Achilles tendinopathy, who were treated by dorsal wedge calcaneal osteotomy, excision of the wedge and fixation with 2 cannulated screws. The VAS, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot, VISA-A and patient satisfaction scales were performed preoperatively and postoperatively.The radiological parameters analysed were the calcaneal inclination angle, the calcaneal length and the Fowler-Philips angle.A statistical analysis was performed.The mean follow-up was 18.3 months (range 14-36). ResultsAll patients reported relief from symptoms. The VAS scale improved from 8.25 to 2.16 points; and the AOFAS score rose from 41.5 to 86.5 points (P<.05). The presence of tendon spurs on postoperative x-rays was not related to the clinical improvement. ConclusionsBased on the results that we present, the dorsal wedge calcaneal osteotomy can be considered an alternative procedure for insertional Achilles tendinopathy in patients with a high calcaneal inclination angle. The symptomatic relief of all the patients might be secondary to the reduction of the tendon tension in its insertion.

A Novel Approach to Investigate Running Kinematics in Achilles Tendinopathy Patients Using Inertial Sensors

Mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a common injury in runners. Overloading the tendon results in pain, swelling and impaired running performance. Recovery involves rest and a gradual build up. Determining whether patients can resume training is difficult and currently rather qualitative. To provide quantitative data to the physician to assist clinical decision- making, we studied the between leg differences in running kinematics for AT patients using inertial sensors in the clinical setting. PURPOSE:To investigate lower limb kinematics in AT patients during 5 minute treadmill running in the clinic, using inertial magnetic measurement units (IMUs). METHODS:4 runners diagnosed with mild unilateral AT (4M , 48.8 ± 7.5 yrs, 188.8 ± 11.2 cm, 82.5 ± 11.1 kg) performed a 5 min. treadmill run in the sports medicine clinic, as part of a larger study, with 8 IMU’s at the feet, tibia, upper legs, sacrum and sternum. Ankle and knee angles were determined at initial contact (IC) and mid stance (MS). Additional parameters that were calculated were the vertical lower leg angle at IC (VLL), peak tibial impact (PTA), peak sacral impact (PSA), push-off power (POP) (lin. velocity at toe off, TO) and internal rotation (IR) of the tibia (at TO). Parameters were determined for the injured and non-injured leg at 1-min. intervals. An independent Mann-Whitney U-test was used to test for differences within patients between the injured and non-injured leg. RESULTS: Table 1 CONCLUSIONS:The injured leg of these AT patients showed significantly different running kinematics. AT strongly affected ankle mechanics, possibly as a compensatory strategy, indicating non-full recovery of the patients. The use of IMUs to determine the recovery of AT patients quantitatively is promising. Using IMUs there is no need for 3d optical motion capture systems or an instrumented treadmill to quantify running kinematics. Future research should follow up on these measurements to identify fully recovered patients.Table 1: Mean values ± standard deviation of the selected outcome parameters. Statistical differences was tested for using an independent Mann-Whitney-U-test.

Oral Supplementation of Specific Collagen Peptides Combined with Calf-Strengthening Exercises Enhances Function and Reduces Pain in Achilles Tendinopathy Patients.

The current pilot study investigates whether oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides improves symptoms and tendon vascularisation in patients with chronic mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy in combination with structured exercise. Participants were given a placebo or specific collagen peptides (TENDOFORTE®) in combination with a bi-daily calf-strengthening program for 6 months. Group AB received specific collagen peptides for the first 3 months before crossing over to placebo. Group BA received placebo first before crossing over to specific collagen peptides. At baseline (T1), 3 (T2) and 6 (T3) months, Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment–Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaires and microvascularity measurements through contrast-enhanced ultrasound were obtained in 20 patients. Linear mixed modeling statistics showed that after 3 months, VISA-A increased significantly for group AB with 12.6 (9.7; 15.5), while in group BA VISA-A increased only by 5.3 (2.3; 8.3) points. After crossing over group AB and BA showed subsequently a significant increase in VISA-A of, respectively, 5.9 (2.8; 9.0) and 17.7 (14.6; 20.7). No adverse advents were reported. Microvascularity decreased in both groups to a similar extent and was moderately associated with VISA-A (Rc2:0.68). We conclude that oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides may accelerate the clinical benefits of a well-structured calf-strengthening and return-to-running program in Achilles tendinopathy patients.

CSM 2019 American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy Poster Presentations (Abstracts SPO1–SPO132)

CSM 2019 American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy Poster Presentations (Abstracts SPO1–SPO132)

Acute effect of running exercise on physiological Achilles tendon blood flow.

Sonographically detectable intratendinous blood flow (IBF) is found in 50%-88% of Achilles tendinopathy patients as well as in up to 35% of asymptomatic Achilles tendons (AT). Although IBF is frequently associated with tendon pathology, it may also represent a physiological regulation, for example, due to increased blood flow in response to exercise. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the acute effects of a standardized running exercise protocol on IBF assessed with Doppler ultrasound (DU) "Advanced dynamic flow" in healthy ATs. 10 recreationally active adults (5 f, 5m; 29±3years, 1.72±0.12m, 68±16kg, physical activity 206±145minute/wk) with no history of AT pain and inconspicious tendon structure performed 3 treadmill running tasks on separate days (M1-3) with DU examinations directly before and 5, 30, 60, and 120minutes after exercise. At M1, an incremental exercise test was used to determine the individual anaerobic threshold (IAT). At M2 and M3, participants performed 30-minute submaximal constant load tests (CL1 /CL2 ) with an intensity 5% below IAT. IBF in each tendon was quantified by counting the number of vessels. IBF increased in five ATs from no vessels at baseline to one to four vessels solely detectable 5minutes after CL1 or CL2 . One AT had persisting IBF (three vessels) throughout all examinations. Fourteen ATs revealed no IBF at all. Prolonged running led to a physiological, temporary appearance of IBF in 25% of asymptomatic ATs. To avoid exercise-induced IBF in clinical practice, DU examinations should be performed after 30minutes of rest.

High Volume Image Guided Injections with or without Steroid for Mid-Portion Achilles Tendinopathy: A Pilot Study

Objective: High volume image guided injections of local anaesthetic and saline plus steroid plus structured rehabilitation (HVIGI and SR) have been shown to improve outcomes in Achilles tendinopathy (AT) patients. Due to concerns about steroid safety, our aim was to determine whether omitting the steroid altered the clinical effects of HVIGI and SR. Methods: 23 consecutively recruited patients with AT (26 symptomatic tendons) were treated with a HVIGI composed of 10mls of 0.5% Marcaine mixed with either 40 ml of normal saline including 25 mg of hydrocortisone or 40 ml of saline only. Treatment allocation was determined by patient selection. The VISA-A questionnaire and visual analogue scales (VAS) were administered at pre-injection; 2, 6 and 10 weeks; and 12-month follow-up. Results: VISA-A scores improved significantly in both groups, from a pre-injection mean (± SD) of 42.0 (± 20.5) to 86.9 (± 11.8) (p<0.01) in the ‘with steroid’ group, and from 42.6 (± 9.1) to 83.3 (± 12.2) (p<0.01) in the non-steroid group at final follow-up. VAS scores improved significantly in both groups. There was no statistically significance difference between the groups at baseline or any follow-up, in either VISA-A and VAS changes. A stronger effect size in favour of no steroid was seen at 10 weeks. Conclusion: Overall, HVIGI and SR without steroid yields similar effects on pain reduction and functional improvement in comparison to HVIGI and SR with steroid. These results suggest that the effects of the injection may be mechanical rather than chemical, and that the steroid can be omitted. A randomised controlled trial is required to confirm this.

Is Sonographic Assessment of Intratendinous Blood Flow in Achilles Tendinopathy Patients Reliable?: Consistency of Doppler Ultrasound Modes and Intra- and Inter-observer Reliability.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the consistency between different Doppler ultrasound (DU) modes as well as the intra- and inter-observer reliability of investigators with different experience level in assessing intratendinous blood flow (IBF) in Achilles tendinopathy patients. 18 participants (36 Achilles tendons, AT) with Achilles tendinopathy (24 AT) were examined with power Doppler ultrasound (PDU), colour Doppler ultrasound (CDU) and "Advanced Dynamic Flow" (ADF) (Toshiba Xario SSA-660 A; 14MHz transducer) by 2 investigators (experienced, EI; inexperienced, II) in a test-retest design (M1/M2). A modified Öhberg score was used to quantify IBF. Data was analysed descriptively (absolute and relative). Consistency of the 3 modes was presented by Kendall's Coefficient of Concordance (Kendall's W). Intra- and inter-observer reliability were calculated by use of Kendall's tau b correlation coefficient. IBF was detected in 79-92% of symptomatic AT and in 33-50% of contralateral asymptomatic AT. Comparing the 3 modes, Kendall's W ranged from 0.97-0.98. Analysis of intra-observer reliability resulted in Kendall's tau 0.90-0.92 for EI and 0.84-0.87 for II. Inter-observer reliability resulted in Kendall's tau 0.64-0.69 in M1 and 0.68-0.70 in M2. The very good consistency between PDU, CDU and ADF indicates a comparable applicability for assessing IBF in ATs. Intra-observer reliability was high for both investigators, independent of experience. The moderate inter-observer reliability reflects the challenge in sonographic detection of intratendinous blood flow (IBF) amount.

Danish VISA-A questionnaire with validation and reliability testing for Danish-speaking Achilles tendinopathy patients.

The VISA-A questionnaire has proven to be a valid and reliable tool for assessing severity of Achilles tendinopathy (AT). The aim was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the VISA-A questionnaire for a Danish-speaking AT population, and subsequently perform validity and reliability tests. Translation and following cross-cultural adaptation was performed as translation, synthesis, reverse translation, expert review, and pretesting. The final Danish version (VISA-A-DK) was tested for reliability on healthy controls (n = 75) and patients (n = 36). Tests for internal consistency, validity, and structure were performed on 71 patients. VISA-A-DK showed good reliability for patients (r = 0.80 ICC = 0.79) and healthy individuals (r = 0.98 ICC = 0.97). Internal consistency was 0.73 (Cronbach's alpha). The mean VISA-A-DK score in AT patients was 51 [47-55]. This was significantly lower than healthy controls with a score of 93 (90-95). Criterion validity was considered good when comparing the scores of the Danish version with the original version in both healthy individuals and patients. VISA-A-DK is a valid and reliable instrument and has shown compatible to the original version in assessment of AT patients. VISA-A-DK is a useful tool in the assessment of AT, both in research and in a clinical setting.

Inflammatory and Metabolic Alterations of Kager's Fat Pad in Chronic Achilles Tendinopathy.

BackgroundAchilles tendinopathy is a painful inflammatory condition characterized by swelling, stiffness and reduced function of the Achilles tendon. Kager’s fat pad is an adipose tissue located in the area anterior to the Achilles tendon. Observations reveal a close physical interplay between Kager’s fat pad and its surrounding structures during movement of the ankle, suggesting that Kager’s fat pad may stabilize and protect the mechanical function of the ankle joint.AimThe aim of this study was to characterize whether Achilles tendinopathy was accompanied by changes in expression of inflammatory markers and metabolic enzymes in Kager’s fat pad.MethodsA biopsy was taken from Kager’s fat pad from 31 patients with chronic Achilles tendinopathy and from 13 healthy individuals. Gene expression was measured by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Focus was on genes related to inflammation and lipid metabolism.ResultsExpression of the majority of analyzed inflammatory marker genes was increased in patients with Achilles tendinopathy compared to that in healthy controls. Expression patterns of the patient group were consistent with reduced lipolysis and increased fatty acid β-oxidation. In the fat pad, the pain-signaling neuropeptide substance P was found to be present in one third of the subjects in the Achilles tendinopathy group but in none of the healthy controls.ConclusionGene expression changes in Achilles tendinopathy patient samples were consistent with Kager’s fat pad being more inflamed than in the healthy control group. Additionally, the results indicate an altered lipid metabolism in Kager’s fat pad of Achilles tendinopathy patients.

Structural integrity is decreased in both Achilles tendons in people with unilateral Achilles tendinopathy.

A high proportion of Achilles tendinopathy patients develop bilateral symptoms with human and animal studies showing bilateral histological changes associated with overuse/pathology in one tendon. The current study examined changes in tendon structure, assessed semi-quantitatively using ultrasound tissue characterisation, in both the symptomatic and asymptomatic tendon in unilateral Achilles tendinopathy patients in comparison to individuals with no history of tendinopathy. Cross-sectional case-control study. Participants with Achilles tendinopathy (n=21), with varying severity and length of clinical symptoms, and six participants with no history of tendinopathy were recruited. Tendons were scanned using ultrasound tissue characterisation, which captures contiguous transverse ultrasound images every 0.2mm and renders a 3-dimensional image. Ultrasound tissue characterisation quantifies tendon structure by measuring the stability of echopattern over contiguous transverse images. Four echo-types were discriminated and expressed as a percentage. Antero-posterior diameter of all tendons was measured. Significant differences were observed in the proportion of normal tendon structure between all three groups (p<0.01), with the symptomatic tendon containing the least amount of normal tendon structure (symptomatic - 79.5%, asymptomatic - 81.8%, control - 86.4%). The asymptomatic tendon contained significantly less normal tendon in comparison to the control tendon (p=0.008), suggesting the asymptomatic tendon is structurally compromised despite the absence of symptoms. Both Achilles tendons are structurally compromised in patients with unilateral Achilles tendinopathy. Future studies need to investigate whether these changes increase the risk of developing symptoms.