This article assess the statistical data reported in the literature on Achilles tendinopathy. Achilles tendon disorders rank among the most frequently reported overuse injuries in the literature. The majority of individuals affected by Achilles tendinopathy are active in sport at recreational or competitive level. The annual incidence of Achilles tendinopathy in runners has been reported to be 7-9%, although sedentary people are also affected.
This is not a systematic review, in that no specific methodological criteria were used to gather and analyze the data from the literature.
Although Silbernagel found a significant reduction in pain at 1-year follow-up, exercise performance did not improve in patients undergoing eccentric exercise compared to those in the control group, while Rompe showed that extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) combined with eccentric exercises yielded better results than eccentric exercises alone.
An eccentric training program is effective in treating midportion Achilles tendinopathy even though it is not yet established what the most effective protocol is.