Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026
08:19
Murine Hind Limb Explant Model for Studying the Mechanobiology of Achilles Tendon Impingement
Published on: December 8, 2023
Insertional achilles tendinopathy management: a systematic review
Rebecca Kearney1, Matthew L Costa
1University of Warwick, Warwick Medical School, Clinical Sciences Research Institute, Coventry, UK. R.S.Kearney@Warwick.ac.uk
Foot & Ankle International
|August 24, 2010
Summary
Management of insertional Achilles tendinopathy is challenging. Current evidence suggests eccentric loading and shock wave therapy, but more research is needed to confirm effectiveness for this specific condition.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Sports Medicine
- Rehabilitation
Background:
- Insertional Achilles tendinopathy presents significant management challenges.
- Evidence-based treatment strategies for this condition are debated.
- This review focuses on interventions specifically for insertional Achilles tendinopathy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the existing evidence for interventions targeting insertional Achilles tendinopathy.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of both conservative and operative treatments.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive search of Medline and the Cochrane library was conducted.
- Included studies were of various designs, excluding case studies and opinion pieces.
- Methodological quality and study characteristics were independently assessed.
Main Results:
- Eleven articles met the eligibility criteria from an initial 118.
- Six studies examined operative techniques after conservative treatment failure; five focused solely on conservative interventions.
- The evidence base is primarily composed of case series, with limited data from a single randomized controlled trial.
Conclusions:
- Conservative management is recommended prior to surgical intervention for insertional Achilles tendinopathy.
- Eccentric loading and shock wave therapy show promise but have limited supporting evidence.
- Operative intervention evaluations are largely retrospective and inconclusive, necessitating further investigation.
