Achilles tendinopathy
Also called: achilles tendon pain
Pain and stiffness in the tendon at the back of the ankle, common in runners.
Where the evidence stands
- 1 clinical practice guideline — start there.
- 6 recent reviews (systematic reviews and meta-analyses) and 0 recent randomized trials shown below.
- Most recent publication here: May 1, 2026.
Outcome measures clinicians use to track progress: Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS).
Clinical practice guideline
- Achilles Pain, Stiffness, and Muscle Power Deficits: Midportion Achilles Tendinopathy Revision 2024 ↗
AOPT's third guideline revision on midportion Achilles tendinopathy, covering diagnosis, risk factors, and physical therapist management.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Studies of studies — each pools the results of many trials.
- Shockwave Therapy for Midportion and Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy: A Nail in the Coffin? A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis
- The efficacy of eccentric exercise in the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- UK defence rehabilitation review of Achilles and patellar tendinopathy conservative management: a systematic review
- UK Defence Rehabilitation consensus agreement for the conservative management of Achilles and patellar tendinopathy: a modified Delphi approach
- Extracorporeal shockwave therapy versus sham extracorporeal shockwave therapy for chronic Achilles tendinopathy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- High-volume injections in Achilles tendinopathy: a systematic review
Recent randomized trials
Newest first. Single trials are building blocks; weigh them against the reviews.
We couldn’t load trials from PubMed just now. Please check back soon.
Studies without a summary yet get one the first time a Limbic member opens them, or within a few days.