The role of eccentric training in the management of Achilles tendinopathy: A pilot study

Objective: To investigate the effect of different types of treatment on Achilles tendinopathy, one proposed to increase tensile strength of the tendon, the other a more traditional treatment used in a clinical setting. Design: Repeated measures trial comparing two interventions. Setting: Sports injury clinic. Participants: Twenty-five participants were randomly allocated to the eccentric group (n = 13) or the control group (n = 12). Main outcome measures: The VISA-A questionnaire was used to determine outcomes and was administered to all participants at 0, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Results: All subjects significantly improved over the 12-week period (p = 0.0001), but the eccentric group demonstrated significantly higher (p = 0.014) VISA-A scores at 12 weeks. Conclusion: The study suggests that the addition of a 12-week eccentric exercise programme to conventional treatment of ultrasound and deep transverse frictions is more effective in treating Achilles tendinopathy than conventional treatment alone. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.