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Critical Reviews™ in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine

ISSN for PRINT: 0896-2960

Institutional price:	$684.00
Issues per year:	4

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2004, Volume16

79 pages

DOI: 10.1615/CritRevPhysRehabilMed.v16.i2

Issue price - $163.00

Achilles Tendinopathy

Yoichi Koike, MD
The Bone and Joint Research Laboratory, University of Ottawa; and Department of Medicine, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 5M2, Canada

Hans K. Uhthoff, MD
The Bone and Joint Research Laboratory, University of Ottawa; and Department of Surgery, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 5M2, Canada

Nanthan Ramachandran, B.Eng
The Bone and Joint Research Laboratory, University of Ottawa; 2Department of Medicine, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 5M2, Canada

Geoffrey P. Doherty MD, MSc
Division of Radiology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 5M2, Canada

Martin Lecompte, MD, FRCPC
Division of Radiology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 5M2, Canada

David S. Backman, M.A.Sc
Structures, Materials and Propulsion Laboratory, Institute for Aerospace Research, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Guy Trudel, MD, MSc
The Bone and Joint Research Laboratory, and Department of Medicine, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Ottawa, 505 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 5M2, Canada

ABSTRACT

Achilles tendons are subjected to large stresses during repetitive motion—running and jumping—exposing them to rupture. The incidence of Achilles tendon rupture is steadily increasing. Ruptures affect a population of working age, with significant cost to society. Immobilization, often used for treatment after lower-leg injury, may further weaken the calf muscles-Achilles tendon-calcaneus unit. On the other hand, continuous activity may also cause more damage and lead to Achilles tendinosis. Therefore, the optimal management of Achilles tendinopathy has yet to be established. Refinements in investigational tools are now available to assess Achilles tendons but need to be validated against hard outcomes such as histology and mechanical strength. Correlating the experimental and clinical indicators of Achilles tendinopathy would provide clinicians and patients with updated guidelines for the treatment of Achilles tendinosis/rupture as well as chronicity and the prevention of re-injury.