Current clinical management of Achilles tendinopathy by Spanish physiotherapists: An observational study

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore how Spanish physiotherapists manage Achilles tendinopathy and to evaluate the alignment of their practices with established clinical guidelines.

Design: A cross-sectional online survey of Spanish physiotherapists.

Setting: Clinical environment.

Participants: Four hundred thirty-four physiotherapists completed the survey.

Methods: An online survey was administered to Spanish physiotherapists between March and April 2024. The survey collected data on clinicians' demographics, treatment approaches, and preferences. Descriptive analysis was performed, with nominal and ordinal data analyzed through frequency counts.

Results: Valid responses were received from 434 physiotherapists with a mean age of 32 years (IQR = 15, range 22-60). Exercise and education were the most used treatments (94 % and 78 % of respondents respectively), although there was variability in their implementation. However, a significant proportion of Spanish physiotherapists (64 %) reported using invasive techniques, which may reduce the time spent on evidence-based interventions (p = 0.001) for the management of Achilles tendinopathy.

Conclusions: Spanish physiotherapists generally follow clinical guidelines for managing AT, with exercise and education as the main interventions. Despite the limited evidence, invasive techniques and manual therapy (74 %) are widely used. Future research should clarify the impact of this practice in the Spanish population.

Keywords: Achilles tendinopathy; Management; Spain; Survey.