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Journal of the International Society of... 2022Tendinopathy is a painful condition that is prevalent in athletes as well as the general human population, and whose management is challenging. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Tendinopathy is a painful condition that is prevalent in athletes as well as the general human population, and whose management is challenging.
OBJECTIVE
This systematic review aimed to evaluate the impact of nutrition on the prevention and treatment of tendinopathy.
METHODS
Searches were conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus without restriction to year of publication. Studies examining the impact of exposure to nutrient intake in an adult human population on 1) prevalence/incidence of tendinopathy, 2) clinical outcomes of tendinopathy, 3) structural changes in the tendon by imaging modalities. Experimental and observational study designs written in English, Dutch, or German were eligible.
RESULTS
Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The effects of the habitual diet were investigated in one study. Four studies examined the effects of exposure to alcohol. Alcohol consumption can be a potential risk factor associated with Achilles tendinopathy and rotator cuff tears, although findings were inconsistent. The use of dietary supplements was examined in fourteen studies. Among these, collagen-derived peptides were most often part of the supplements evaluated. Combining training and dietary supplements seems to induce better clinical and functional outcomes in tendinopathy.
CONCLUSION
This review demonstrates the paucity of high-quality studies and a wide variety among studies regarding nutrients, tendon location, study population, and reported outcome measures. Individual studies showed promising clinical implications for the use of dietary supplements, particularly those containing collagen-derived peptides. However, giving any definitive dietary recommendations on the prevention and treatment of tendinopathy remains elusive.
Topics: Achilles Tendon; Adult; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Humans; Nutritional Status; Observational Studies as Topic; Tendinopathy
PubMed: 35937777
DOI: 10.1080/15502783.2022.2104130 -
British Journal of Sports Medicine Mar 2021To provide a consistently updated overview of the comparative effectiveness of treatments for Achilles tendinopathy. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
To provide a consistently updated overview of the comparative effectiveness of treatments for Achilles tendinopathy.
DESIGN
Living systematic review and network meta-analysis.
DATA SOURCES
Multiple databases including grey literature sources were searched up to February 2019.
STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials examining the effectiveness of any treatment in patients with both insertional and/or midportion Achilles tendinopathy. We excluded trials with 10 or fewer participants per treatment arm or trials investigating tendon ruptures.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Reviewers independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. We used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation to appraise the certainty of evidence.
PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE
The validated patient-reported Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles questionnaire.
RESULTS
29 trials investigating 42 different treatments were included. 22 trials (76%) were at high risk of bias and 7 (24%) had some concerns. Most trials included patients with midportion tendinopathy (86%). Any treatment class seemed superior to wait-and-see for midportion Achilles tendinopathy at 3 months (very low to low certainty of evidence). At 12 months, exercise therapy, exercise+injection therapy and exercise+night splint therapy were all comparable with injection therapy for midportion tendinopathy (very low to low certainty). No network meta-analysis could be performed for insertional Achilles tendinopathy.
SUMMARY/CONCLUSION
In our living network meta-analysis no trials were at low risk of bias and there was large uncertainty in the comparative estimates. For midportion Achilles tendinopathy, wait-and-see is not recommended as all active treatments seemed superior at 3-month follow-up. There seems to be no clinically relevant difference in effectiveness between different active treatments at either 3-month or 12-month follow-up. As exercise therapy is easy to prescribe, can be of low cost and has few harms, clinicians could consider starting treatment with a calf-muscle exercise programme.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42018086467.
Topics: Achilles Tendon; Humans; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Tendinopathy
PubMed: 32522732
DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2019-101872 -
Journal of Functional Morphology and... Jul 2019Achilles tendinopathy is a common musculoskeletal disorder. Athletes, runners and jumpers, and the sedentary are frequently affected. Numerous are the therapeutic... (Review)
Review
Achilles tendinopathy is a common musculoskeletal disorder. Athletes, runners and jumpers, and the sedentary are frequently affected. Numerous are the therapeutic choices to manage these kinds of disorders. The aim of this review is to analyze the available literature to document the up-to-date evidence on conservative management of Achilles tendinopathy. A systematic review of two medical electronic databases was performed by three independent authors, using the following inclusion criteria: conservative treatment consisted of pharmacologic, physical therapy without operative treatment, with more of 6 months symptoms and a minimum average of 6-months follow-up. Studies of any level of evidence, reporting clinical results, and dealing with Achilles tendinopathy and conservative treatment were searched for. A total of = 1228 articles were found. At the end of the first screening, following the previously described selection criteria, we selected = 94 articles eligible for full-text reading. Ultimately, after full-text reading and a reference list check, we selected = 29 articles. Achilles tendinopathy is a frequent musculoskeletal disorder and several conservative treatments have been proposed, but no therapy is universally accepted, except for eccentric exercise training, which is the gold standard and a commonly used protocol.
PubMed: 33467361
DOI: 10.3390/jfmk4030046 -
EFORT Open Reviews Oct 2022The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare re-rupture rates, complication rates, functional outcomes, as well as return to work (RTW)/sport (RTS)... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare re-rupture rates, complication rates, functional outcomes, as well as return to work (RTW)/sport (RTS) among different rehabilitation protocols following operative treatment of acute Achilles tendon ruptures.
METHODS
Systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Five databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing at least two rehabilitation protocols following surgical repair of acute Achilles tendon ruptures. Rehabilitation protocols were classified as a variation of either non-weightbearing (NWB) or weightbearing (WB) and immobilization (IM) or mobilization (M). The data collection consisted of re-ruptures, complications, and RTW/RTS.
RESULTS
Out of 2760 studies screened, 20 RCTs with 1007 patients were eligible. Fourteen studies included a group consisting of WB + M (Group 1), 11 of WB + IM (Group 2), 3 of NWB + M (Group 3), and 13 of NWB + IM (Group 4). Outcome parameters available for a meta-analysis were re-ruptures, complications, RTW, and RTS. Re-ruptures overall occurred in 2.7%, with prevalences ranging between 0.04 and 0.08. Major complications occurred in 2.6%, with prevalences ranging between 0.02 and 0.03. Minor complications occurred in 11.8% with prevalances ranging between 0.04 to 0.17. Comparing the odds-ratios between the four different groups revealed no significant differences with overall favourable results for group 1 (WB+M).
CONCLUSION
Early functional rehabilitation protocols with early ankle M and WB following surgical repair of acute Achilles tendon ruptures are safe and they apparently allow for a quicker RTW and RTS and seem to lead to favourable results.
PubMed: 36287109
DOI: 10.1530/EOR-22-0072 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2023Tendinopathy is a growing global concern affecting many people, like athletes, workers, and the elderly. Despite its commonality among the sporting population, there is... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Tendinopathy is a growing global concern affecting many people, like athletes, workers, and the elderly. Despite its commonality among the sporting population, there is no practical clinical guideline for patellar tendinopathy (PT). Furthermore, there is conflicting evidence between clinical guidelines on shockwave therapy's application and clinical utility for Achilles tendinopathy (AT) and plantar fasciitis (PF). Thus, our aim of this study is to evaluate the evidence for shockwave therapy; to provide a Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) level of the evidence and effectiveness of shockwave therapy for patellar tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy, and Plantar fasciitis.
METHOD
Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline), Embase, The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure database (CNKI) were searched to find relevant studies published before December 14, 2022.
RESULTS
Our study showed that for PT in the short term, extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) or ESWT + eccentric exercise (EE) has a negligible effect on pain and function compared to a placebo or placebo + EE. On the contrary, ESWT significantly affects pain compared to conservative treatment (CT). For AT, ESWT has a small inconclusive effect on pain and function in the short term compared to EE. On the other hand, a placebo outperformed ESWT in improving function for AT but not pain outcomes. PF showed that ESWT significantly affects short- and long-term pain and function. When ESWT was compared to other interventions such as low laser therapy (LLLT), corticosteroid injection (CSI), or CT, there was a small inconclusive effect on pain and function in the short term.
CONCLUSION
There is low-moderate evidence that ESWT has a negligible effect on pain and function for PT and AT. However, high-quality evidence suggests ESWT has a large effect on pain and function for PF.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023396835, identifier CRD42023396835.
Topics: Aged; Humans; Achilles Tendon; Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy; Fasciitis, Plantar; High-Energy Shock Waves; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Tendinopathy
PubMed: 37662911
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1193835 -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Jan 2019To compare re-rupture rate, complication rate, and functional outcome after operative versus nonoperative treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures; to compare re-rupture... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
To compare re-rupture rate, complication rate, and functional outcome after operative versus nonoperative treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures; to compare re-rupture rate after early and late full weight bearing; to evaluate re-rupture rate after functional rehabilitation with early range of motion; and to compare effect estimates from randomised controlled trials and observational studies.
DESIGN
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed/Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, and CINAHL databases were last searched on 25 April 2018 for studies comparing operative versus nonoperative treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures.
STUDY SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials and observational studies reporting on comparison of operative versus nonoperative treatment of acute Achilles tendon ruptures.
DATA EXTRACTION
Data extraction was performed independently in pairs, by four reviewers, with the use of a predefined data extraction file. Outcomes were pooled using random effects models and presented as risk difference, risk ratio, or mean difference, with 95% confidence interval.
RESULTS
29 studies were included-10 randomised controlled trials and 19 observational studies. The 10 trials included 944 (6%) patients, and the 19 observational studies included 14 918 (94%) patients. A significant reduction in re-ruptures was seen after operative treatment (2.3%) compared with nonoperative treatment (3.9%) (risk difference 1.6%; risk ratio 0.43, 95% confidence interval 0.31 to 0.60; P<0.001; I=22%). Operative treatment resulted in a significantly higher complication rate than nonoperative treatment (4.9% 1.6%; risk difference 3.3%; risk ratio 2.76, 1.84 to 4.13; P<0.001; I=45%). The main difference in complication rate was attributable to the incidence of infection (2.8%) in the operative group. A similar reduction in re-rupture rate in favour of operative treatment was seen after both early and late full weight bearing. No significant difference in re-rupture rate was seen between operative and nonoperative treatment in studies that used accelerated functional rehabilitation with early range of motion (risk ratio 0.60, 0.26 to 1.37; P=0.23; I=0%). No difference in effect estimates was seen between randomised controlled trials and observational studies.
CONCLUSIONS
This meta-analysis shows that operative treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures reduces the risk of re-rupture compared with nonoperative treatment. However, re-rupture rates are low and differences between treatment groups are small (risk difference 1.6%). Operative treatment results in a higher risk of other complications (risk difference 3.3%). The final decision on the management of acute Achilles tendon ruptures should be based on patient specific factors and shared decision making. This review emphasises the potential benefits of adding high quality observational studies in meta-analyses for the evaluation of objective outcome measures after surgical treatment.
Topics: Achilles Tendon; Female; Humans; Male; Observational Studies as Topic; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Recurrence; Risk Factors; Rupture
PubMed: 30617123
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.k5120 -
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and... Mar 2021Insertional Achilles tendinopathy is difficult to manage, and there is no definite consensus on which nonoperative treatment is superior over the others. We aim to...
BACKGROUND
Insertional Achilles tendinopathy is difficult to manage, and there is no definite consensus on which nonoperative treatment is superior over the others. We aim to provide a clear summary of the best available evidence for nonoperative treatment specific to insertional Achilles tendinopathy.
METHODS
Literatures were searched in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases from inception to October 2020. The results were evaluated independently by two reviewers and assessed against the inclusion/exclusion criteria. All included articles were assessed for methodological quality, and study characteristics were extracted.
RESULTS
Twenty-three studies (containing 35 groups) were eligible for the final review. The treatments included eccentric training, extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), injections, and combined treatment. Visual analog scale (VAS), Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles questionnaire, AOFAS, satisfaction rate, and other scales were used to assess the clinical outcome.
CONCLUSION
Current evidence for nonoperative treatment specific for insertional Achilles tendinopathy favors ESWT or the combined treatment of ESWT plus eccentric exercises.
Topics: Achilles Tendon; Combined Modality Therapy; Conservative Treatment; Exercise Therapy; Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy; Female; Humans; Male; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Tendinopathy; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 33785026
DOI: 10.1186/s13018-021-02370-0 -
Journal of Sports Science & Medicine Mar 2020Although the role of shoe constructions on running injury and performance has been widely investigated, systematic reviews on the shoe construction effects on running...
Although the role of shoe constructions on running injury and performance has been widely investigated, systematic reviews on the shoe construction effects on running biomechanics were rarely reported. Therefore, this review focuses on the relevant research studies examining the biomechanical effect of running shoe constructions on reducing running-related injury and optimising performance. Searches of five databases and Footwear Science from January 1994 to September 2018 for related biomechanical studies which investigated running footwear constructions yielded a total of 1260 articles. After duplications were removed and exclusion criteria applied to the titles, abstracts and full text, 63 studies remained and categorised into following constructions: (a) shoe lace, (b) midsole, (c) heel flare, (d) heel-toe drop, (e) minimalist shoes, (f) Masai Barefoot Technologies, (g) heel cup, (h) upper, and (i) bending stiffness. Some running shoe constructions positively affect athletic performance-related and injury-related variables: 1) increasing the stiffness of running shoes at the optimal range can benefit performance-related variables; 2) softer midsoles can reduce impact forces and loading rates; 3) thicker midsoles can provide better cushioning effects and attenuate shock during impacts but may also decrease plantar sensations of a foot; 4) minimalist shoes can improve running economy and increase the cross-sectional area and stiffness of Achilles tendon but it would increase the metatarsophalangeal and ankle joint loading compared to the conventional shoes. While shoe constructions can effectively influence running biomechanics, research on some constructions including shoe lace, heel flare, heel-toe drop, Masai Barefoot Technologies, heel cup, and upper requires further investigation before a viable scientific guideline can be made. Future research is also needed to develop standard testing protocols to determine the optimal stiffness, thickness, and heel-toe drop of running shoes to optimise performance-related variables and prevent running-related injuries.
Topics: Achilles Tendon; Ankle Joint; Athletic Performance; Biomechanical Phenomena; Equipment Design; Forefoot, Human; Humans; Metatarsophalangeal Joint; Running; Shoes; Stress, Mechanical
PubMed: 32132824
DOI: No ID Found -
Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine Nov 2019Early functional rehabilitation is frequently discussed in treating Achilles tendon rupture. A consistent definition of what constitutes early functional rehabilitation... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Early functional rehabilitation is frequently discussed in treating Achilles tendon rupture. A consistent definition of what constitutes early functional rehabilitation has not been established across the literature, despite studies supporting its efficacy. A standardized definition would be helpful to pool data across studies, allow for between-study comparisons, and ultimately work toward developing clinical guidelines.
PURPOSE
To define early functional rehabilitation (including when it is initiated and what it entails) when used to treat Achilles tendon rupture and to identify outcome measures for evaluating the effect of treatment.
STUDY DESIGN
Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.
METHODS
Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, PEDro, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases were searched for relevant studies. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies consisted of randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case series (≥10 participants) including weightbearing or exercise-based interventions within 8 weeks after Achilles tendon rupture.
RESULTS
A total of 174 studies published between 1979 and 2018 were included. Studies were rated a median (interquartile range [IQR]) of 17 (15-20) on the Downs & Black checklist and included 9098 participants. Early functional rehabilitation incorporated weightbearing (95%), range of motion (73%), and isometric/strengthening exercises (50%). Weightbearing was initiated within the first week, whereas exercise (eg, ankle range of motion, strengthening, whole-body conditioning) was initiated in the second week. Initiation of exercises varied based on whether treatment was nonsurgical (mean, 3.0 weeks; IQR, 2.0-4.0 weeks) or simple (mean, 2.0 weeks; IQR, 0.0-2.3 weeks) or augmented surgical repair (mean, 0.5 weeks; IQR, 0.0-2.8 weeks) ( = .017). Functional outcomes including ankle range of motion (n = 84) and strength (n = 76) were reported in 130 studies. Other outcome domains included patient-reported outcomes (n = 89), survey-based functional outcomes (n = 50), and tendon properties (n = 53).
CONCLUSION
Early functional rehabilitation includes weightbearing and a variety of exercise-based interventions initiated within the first 2 weeks after acute Achilles tendon rupture/repair. Because early functional rehabilitation has lacked a standardized definition, interventions and outcome measures are highly variable, and pooling data across studies should be done with attention paid to what was included in the intervention and how treatment was assessed.
PubMed: 31803789
DOI: 10.1177/2325967119884071 -
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders Feb 2023The incidence of Achilles tendinopathy has risen over the past decades. Insertional Achilles tendinopathy is characterised by tissue degeneration of the Achilles tendon... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
The incidence of Achilles tendinopathy has risen over the past decades. Insertional Achilles tendinopathy is characterised by tissue degeneration of the Achilles tendon from its insertion in the calcaneus to up to 2 cm proximally. This clinical condition is accompanied by pain, loss of function and diminished exercise tolerance. Numerous conservative treatment modalities are available to participants with insertional Achilles tendinopathy, including eccentric exercises, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, laser therapy, cryotherapy, therapeutic ultrasound, and orthotics. Eccentric exercise and extracorporeal shockwave therapy may reduce pain in participants with non-calcified insertional Achilles tendinopathy. However, no specific treatment is recommended over another due to the low methodological quality of trials. Given the lack of standard or preferred non-surgical treatment and the potential risks of surgical treatment, there is an imminent need to reassess different non-surgical treatments based on the newest evidence. Thus, this systematic review aims to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the various non-surgical treatments for insertional Achilles tendinopathy.
METHODS
AMED EBSCOhost, CINAHL, EBSCOhost, EMBASE, PEDro, PubMed, Web of Science, and Clinicaltrials.gov were searched from 1992 to 14th October 2022, randomised controlled trials of adults with insertional Achilles tendinopathy investigating non-surgical treatments compared with each other or no treatment, placebo/sham control. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted the data. Random effects of network meta-analysis immediately after treatments were used to report comparative treatment effects. The surface under the cumulative ranking probabilities was calculated to assess the relative ranking of treatments.
RESULTS
Nine trials (total n = 464 participants) were included. This review recommended the combination of eccentric exercise and soft tissue therapy to manage insertional Achilles tendinopathy. With the highest SUCRA values of 84.8, and the best mean rank of 1.9, Eccentric exercise plus soft tissue treatment ranked as the most effective treatment for short-term pain.
CONCLUSIONS
This is the first NMA of non-surgical treatment focusing on short-term pain control for IAT which eccentric exercise plus soft-tissue therapy was found to be the most effective treatment combination. However, the overall confidence in non-surgical treatments from all included trials was very low. No recommendation of the best treatment option can be made from this review.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Achilles Tendon; Network Meta-Analysis; Tendinopathy; Exercise Therapy; Pain; Treatment Outcome; Musculoskeletal Diseases
PubMed: 36750789
DOI: 10.1186/s12891-023-06170-x