| (Alfredson
et al., 1998) |
Controlled
Clinical Trial (surgical comparator) |
No |
Yes |
2 (Eccentric
training; Surgery) |
G1: 15;
G2: 15 |
Recreational
athletes with chronic Achilles tendinosis |
Jogging,
soccer |
Training:
44.3 ± 7.0 yrs; Surgery: 39.6 ± 7.9 yrs |
Training:
12M/3F; Surgery: 11M/4F |
Achilles
tendon (midportion) |
VAS pain,
isokinetic calf strength, USG |
Training:
12 wks; Surgery: 24 wks postop |
| (Demir
Benli et al., 2022) |
RCT (parallel
groups) |
Yes |
Yes |
2 (Eccentric
exercise; ESWT) |
G1: 30;
G2: 30 |
Adults
with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy |
Fitness,
soccer, volleyball, pilates, walking |
18–55
yrs (mean 37.3 ± 12.2) |
40F/23M |
Achilles
tendon (midportion) |
VAS pain,
VISA-A, USG, tendon strain |
12 wks
treatment, 2 yrs follow-up |
| (Beyer
et al., 2015) |
RCT (parallel
groups) |
Yes |
Yes |
2 (Eccentric
exercise; HSR) |
G1: 25;
G2: 22 |
Recreational
athletes with midportion Achilles tendinopathy |
Fitness,
volleyball, badminton |
31–60
yrs (mean 48 ± 2) |
ECC: 18M/7F;
HSR: 14M/8F |
Achilles
tendon (midportion) |
VISA-A,
VAS, Doppler US, activity level |
12 wks
treatment, 52 wks follow-up |
| (Habets
et al., 2021) |
Multicenter
single-blind RCT |
Yes |
Yes |
2 (Alfredson
eccentric; Silbernagel conc-eccentric) |
AG: 18;
SG: 22 |
Recreational
athletes with chronic midportion AT |
Walking,
running, ball sports |
AG: 44.7
± 9 yrs; SG: 49.9 ± 10 yrs |
AG: 8F/10M;
SG: 10F/12M |
Achilles
tendon (midportion) |
VISA-A,
VAS, EQ-5D, Global Perceived Effect |
12, 26,
52 wks |
| (Knobloch
et al., 2007) |
RCT |
Yes |
Yes |
3 (AirHeel+
eccentric; Eccentric only; Symptomatic eccentric) |
112 total
(54, 64, 62) |
Adults
with unilateral AT |
Running,
soccer, others |
48 ±
12 yrs |
59–61%M |
Achilles
tendon (midportion /insertional) |
VAS, FAOS |
12 wks |
| (Knobloch
et al., 2008) |
RCT |
Yes |
Yes |
2 (Eccentric+
AirHeel; Eccentric only) |
116 (57,
59) |
Adults
with unilateral AT |
Running,
soccer, others |
47–48
± 11 yrs |
63–67%M |
Achilles
tendon (main body) |
VAS, FAOS,
Microcirculation |
12 wks |
| (Langberg
et al., 2007) |
RCT (prospective) |
Yes |
Yes |
2 (Injured
vs. healthy) |
6 |
Elite male
soccer players with unilateral AT |
Soccer |
Injured:
26 ± 1; Healthy: 22 ± 1 |
100%M |
Achilles
tendon (main body) |
VAS, collagen
turnover (PICP, ICTP), microdialysis |
12 wks |
| (Malliaras
et al., 2013) |
RCT (4-group) |
Yes |
Yes |
4 (Control;
Concentric; Standard ECC; High-load ECC) |
38 total
(~9–10 per group) |
Healthy
males, 18–35 yrs |
Soccer,
track & field, racquet |
26–29
yrs |
All male |
Achilles
tendon |
5RM, torque,
stiffness, modulus, CSA, stress |
12 wks |
| (Radovanović
et al., 2022) |
Controlled
clinical trial |
Yes |
Yes |
3 (Passive
therapy; Alfredson; High-load) |
14; 15;
15 |
Males with
chronic AT |
Soccer,
volleyball |
24 ±
8 yrs |
100%M |
Achilles
tendon |
VISA-A,
NRS pain, stiffness, Young’s modulus, jump height |
12 wks;
6 mo FU |
| (Rompe
et al., 2007) |
RCT (primary
care) |
Yes |
Yes |
3 (Eccentric;
SWT; Wait-and-see) |
25 each |
Adults
with chronic non-insertional AT |
Various |
48 ±
9 yrs |
64%F |
Achilles
tendon |
VISA-A,
NRS pain, tenderness, US size |
12 wks;
4 mo FU |
| (Rompe
et al., 2009) |
RCT (primary
care) |
Yes |
Yes |
2 (ECC;
ECC+SWT) |
34 each |
Adults
with midportion AT |
Various |
G1: 46.2
± 10.2; G2: 53.1 ± 9.6 |
~59%F |
Achilles
tendon |
VISA-A,
NRS pain, tenderness, US size |
12 wks;
4 mo FU |
| (Stergioulas
et al., 2008) |
RCT |
Yes |
Yes |
2 (Laser;
Placebo laser) |
13; 13 |
Adults
with chronic AT |
Basketball,
volleyball, various |
Laser:
30.1 ± 4.8; Placebo: 28.8 ± 4.8 |
Mixed |
Achilles
tendon |
VAS pain,
stiffness, crepitation, tenderness, dorsiflexion |
8 wks;
12 wks FU |