RESEARCH A-J
Adel Shalabi, A.,
Kristoffersen-Wilberg, Svensson, L., Aspelin, P., and Movin,
T. (2004) Eccentric Training of
the Gastrocnemius-Soleus Complex in Chronic Achilles
Tendinopathy Results in Decreased Tendon Volume and
Intratendinous Signal as Evaluated by MRI. American Journal of
Sports Medicine doi: 10.1177/0363546504263148.
Key point: Eccentric calf muscle training
resulted in decreased Achilles tendon volume and
intratendinous signal, and correlated with an improved
recovery.
Note:
This was an especially
important study.
Alfredson, H., Pietila, T.,
Jonsson, P., Lorentzon, R. (1998). Heavy-load eccentric calf muscle training for
the treatment of chronic Achilles tendinosis. American Journal
of Sports Medicine 26, 360–66. Key
point: After a 12 week training period of eccentric
calf exercises, 15 recreational athletes were back to their
previous running activities. A control group underwent: rest,
anti-inflammatory drugs, change of shoes orthoses, and
physical therapy, but did not improve.
Almekinders, L.C.,
Temple, J.D. (1998).
Etiology, diagnosis, and treatment
of tendonitis: An analysis of the literature.Medicine and
Science in Sports and Exercise 30, 1183–90.
Key points: a) the reasons why Achilles
tendons are susceptible to injury have not been rigorously
studied in scientific trials, b) there is no evidence to
suggest that anti-inflammatory drugs help with the treating
the Achilles tendon, and c) age correlates to the risk of
Achilles tendon injuries, with the 30-50 year old age bracket
at the highest risk.
Anderson, D.L.,
Taunton, J.E., Davidson,
R.G. (1992). Surgical management
of chronic Achilles tendinitis. Clinical Journal of Sport
Medicine 2, 38–42. Key point:
confirmed the Clement et al. 1984 study that 85% of runners
who underwent an Achilles injury recovery program built around
better footwear, relative rest, stretching, eccentric
strengthening, physical therapy, and ice reported excellent
results.
Clement, D.B.,
Taunton, J.E., Smart,
G.W. (1984). Achilles tendinitis
and peritendinitis: Etiology and treatment. American Journal
of Sports Medicine 12, 179–84. Key
Points: a) Achilles
tendons may be prone to injury due to a combination the
Achilles tendon’s poor blood supply and the whipping action of
the Achilles tendon caused by ankle pronation, b) Achilles
tendon injuries may be caused by sudden increases in training
distances, too many speed sessions, increased hill running,
heavy training after a layoff, and inflexibility of the calf
caused by too much training and not enough stretching, c)
injury can be caused by tight inflexible calf muscles, and
either hyper mobile flat feet or high arched cavus chunk feet,
d) a 7-15 mm heel raise should be added to running shoes,
either as an addition to the heel or as an insert inside the
shoe, and e) 85% of 86 runners who underwent an Achilles
injury recovery program built around better footwear, relative
rest, stretching, eccentric calf strengthening, physical
therapy, and ice reported excellent
results.
Fahlström, M,
Lorentzon, R, and Alfredson, H. Painful Conditions in the Achilles Tendon Region
in Elite Badminton Players. American Journal of Sports
Medicine 30:51-54 (2002). Key
point: The players with painful Achilles tendons
spent more time in total, badminton, endurance and strength
training. There were no differences in age, sex, or body mass
index between the players with and without painful Achilles
tendons.
Gibbon, W.W.,
Cooper, J.R., Radcliffe, G.S. (1999).Sonographic incidence of tendon microtears in
athletes with chronic Achilles tendinosis. British Journal of
Sports Medicine 33, 129–30. Key
point: Tiny but repetitive micro tears in the
Achilles tendon may be caused by the calf muscles’ rapid
eccentric shortening at heel strike followed by rapid
contraction contraction at toe-off.
Haglund-Åkerlind,
Y., Eriksson, E. (1993). Range of
motion, muscle torque and training habits in runners with and
without Achilles tendon problems. Knee Surgery, Sports
Traumatology and Arthroscopy 1, 195–99.
Key points: a) runners with Achilles tendon
injures have usually trained for significantly more years and
run significantly more distance per week than runners without
Achilles tendon injuries, and b) the calf muscles of runners
with Achilles tendon injuries have significantly less
eccentric strength than do those of uninjured
runners.
Jorgensen, U.
(1985). Achillodynia and loss of
heel pad shock absorbency. American Journal of Sports
Medicine 13, 128–32. Key
point: loss of heel pad shock absorption capacity may
lead to injury.
Jorgensen, U.,
Ekstrand, J. (1988). Significance
of heel pad confinement for the shock absorption at heel
strike. International Journal of Sports
Medicine 9, 468–73. Key
point: a rigid heel counter may increase a heel pad’s
ability to absorb shock.
Research
K-M Research
N-Z
