[Treatment and diagnosis of overuse injury in the Achilles tendon]

Abstract

Achilles tendinopathy is a common overuse injury, especially among runners. It should be divided into midportion Achilles tendinopathy and insertional Achilles tendinopathy, as the treatments are different. Achilles tendinopathy is a clinical diagnosis, which includes a combination of pain, swelling and stiffness. If pain is located 2-6 cm above the insertion to the calcaneus, it is considered a midportion tendinopathy. Pain located more distally, close to the insertion, is defined as insertional tendinopathy. Both midportion and insertional Achilles tendinopathies are primarily treated with physiotherapy during three to six months. Exercise has the highest level of evidence and is more successful in midportion Achilles tendinopathy. Insertional tendinopathy more often requires surgical treatment, with removal of bony exostosis and chronically inflamed bursa.