Immediate effects of two, isometric calf muscle exercises on mid-portion Achilles tendon pain

Bradford, Ben, Rio, Ebonie, Murphy, Myles, Wells, Jacob, Khondoker, Mizanur ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1801-1635, Clarke, Celia, Chan, York and Chester, Rachel ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1979-0682 (2021) Immediate effects of two, isometric calf muscle exercises on mid-portion Achilles tendon pain. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 42 (12). pp. 1122-1127. ISSN 0172-4622

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Abstract

The objectives of this randomized, cross-over pilot study were to determine whether isometric plantarflexion exercises resulted in an immediate change in Achilles tendon pain during a loading task, and whether this differed in knee extension or flexion. Eleven participants with mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy were recruited from NHS community physiotherapy services and local running clubs. Participants were then randomized to complete an isometric calf muscle exercise with the knee fully extended or flexed to 80°. Participants switched to the alternate exercise after a minimum seven-day period. Achilles tendon pain during a specific, functional load test was measured on a 11-point numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) pre- and post-intervention. There was a small, immediate, mean reduction in pain following isometric plantar flexion performed in both knee extension (1.6, 95%CI 0.83 to 2.45, p=0.001) and knee flexion (1.3, 95%CI 0.31 to 2.19, p=0.015). There were no significant differences between the two positions. A non-significant, potentially clinically relevant finding was a 20% larger reduction in symptoms in knee extension versus flexion (p=0.110). In conclusion, isometric plantarflexion holds gave an approximately 50% immediate reduction in Achilles tendon pain with a functional load test. There were no significant differences between the two positions and both were well tolerated.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: This was a summary of an NIHR funded MSc Thesis
Uncontrolled Keywords: exercise,pain,physiotherapy,tendinopathy,orthopedics and sports medicine,physical therapy, sports therapy and rehabilitation ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2732
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Rehabilitation
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Public Health and Health Services Research (former - to 2023)
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Epidemiology and Public Health
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Lifespan Health
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Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 13 Apr 2021 23:49
Last Modified: 25 Sep 2024 15:29
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/79713
DOI: 10.1055/a-1398-5501

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