British journal of sports medicine
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Clinical Trial
Full symptomatic recovery does not ensure full recovery of muscle-tendon function in patients with Achilles tendinopathy.
To assess the relationship between muscle-tendon function and symptoms in patients with Achilles tendinopathy using a validated test battery. ⋯ Full symptomatic recovery in patients with Achilles tendinopathy does not ensure full recovery of muscle-tendon function. The VISA-A-S questionnaire and the test battery are sensitive to clinically relevant changes with treatment and can be recommended for use in both the clinic and research.
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Achilles tendinopathy affects athletes, recreational exercisers and even inactive people. The pathology is not inflammatory; it is a failed healing response. ⋯ If conservative treatment is not successful, then surgery relieves pain in the majority of cases. Directing a patient through the algorithm presented here will maximise positive treatment outcomes.