Background Although telehealth is becoming more popular for delivery of care for individuals with musculoskeletal pain, to our knowledge telehealth has not been used to manage Achilles tendinopathy. This research aimed to explore the experience of participants and physiotherapists with gym-based exercise interventions for Achilles tendinopathy monitored via videoconference. Methods A qualitative, interpretive description design was performed using semi-structured interviews (8 participants) and a focus group (7 physiotherapists). Participants and physiotherapists were interviewed about their experiences of the use of telehealth during a gym-based exercise intervention incorporating different calf load parameters for Achilles tendinopathy. We employed an inductive thematic analysis approach to analyse the data. Results Three themes identified from both participants and physiotherapists included i) acceptability of telehealth; ii) enablers to adherence with telehealth; and iii) barriers to adherence with telehealth. Two extra themes arose from participants regarding adherence with gym-based exercise, including enablers to adherence with the exercise intervention, and barriers to adherence with the exercise intervention. Both participants and physiotherapists expressed overall satisfaction and acceptability of telehealth monitoring of gym-based exercise. Conclusion Gym-based exercise intervention for Achilles tendinopathy involving weekly telehealth monitoring was acceptable to both participants and physiotherapists. Potential enablers and barriers were identified that may improve adherence to this type of intervention.

The current study aimed to investigate knowledge, attitudes, and implementation of evidence-based practice among physiotherapists working in Saudi Arabia. A sample of physiotherapists working in various outpatient settings in Saudi Arabia participated in this survey. Sixty-four therapists (30 females, 34 males) completed a 28-item survey questionnaire. Approximately half of the participants indicated that evidence-based practice was useful and important for clinical practice. About 60% of the participants reported that they have adopted the evidence-based practice on a regular basis. Participants who had a membership in a physiotherapy organization and had advanced degrees showed more positive attitudes (t = −2.31, p = 0.02 and t = −2.15, p = 0.04, respectively) and greater levels of knowledge (t = −2.32, p = 0.02 and t = −3.86, p = 0.001, respectively) regarding evidence-based practice terminology. Furthermore, place of training (trained overseas) was associated with a positive attitude towards literature findings (t = 2.26, p = 0.03). The results of this study demonstrated that participants reported that evidence-based practice had not been extensively implemented, despite positive attitudes regarding its implementation among physiotherapists practicing in Saudi Arabia.

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Background Understanding plantarflexor muscle impairments among individuals with Achilles tendinopathy (AT) may help to guide future research and inform clinical management of AT. Therefore, the aim of this review is to evaluate plantarflexor muscle impairments among individuals with AT and whether plantarflexor muscle function changes following resistance training interventions. Methods We searched relevant databases including Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid (MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED) and EBSCO (CINAHL Plus and SPORTDiscus) up to September 2020. Studies investigating plantarflexor muscle function were included if they met the following criteria: (1) any study design enabled comparison of plantarflexor muscle function between individuals with and without AT, or the affected and unaffected side of individuals with unilateral AT, and (2) any studies enabled investigation of change in plantarflexion muscle function over time with use of resistance training intervention. We included studies that recruited adults with either insertional or mid-portion AT of any duration. Study selection, quality assessment and data extraction were undertaken independently by two reviewers. Discrepancies were resolved via discussion, or by consulting a third reviewer where necessary. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools specific to each study design were used to assess the methodological quality of included studies. Grading the strength of evidence for each outcome was determined according to the quality and number of studies. Results A total of 25 studies (545 participants) met inclusion. Participants’ mean age was 40 ± 7 years old. Six studies were high quality for all domains, while the remaining were susceptible to the risk of bias (e.g. selection criteria, reporting findings). This review identified moderate evidence that individuals with AT have impairment in maximal plantarflexor torque (seven studies including one with a mixed population) on their affected side, compared with the unaffected side. Impairments were modest (9% and 13% [pooled effect divided by mean of the unaffected side scores]) and of uncertain clinical importance. The remaining evidence, primarily among individuals with mid-portion AT, showed conflicting impairments for plantarflexor function (i.e. explosive strength and endurance) between sides. There was limited to very limited evidence for improvement in plantarflexor endurance (7% and 23%) but not power or strength (five studies including one with a mixed population for strength) over time, despite individuals undertaking several weeks of resistance training. Conclusions Plantarflexor impairments appear more common between sides than compared with control groups but given limitations in the literature further exploration of these relationships is needed. Registration PROSPERO Database; number CRD42019100747.

Background: Modifying variables in exercise prescription can produce specific effects on Achilles tendinopathy outcomes. This study aims to determine the feasibility of conducting an adequately powered randomised trial in the future to assess the efficacy of different load intensity and time-under-tension exercise parameters for improving pain and function in individuals with persistent midportion Achilles tendinopathy. Methods: The trial is designed as prospective, four-armed feasibility and randomised pilot trial with 3 months follow-up. Interventions will be provided in a gym setting. The investigator, who will be blind to the allocation of participants, will conduct all pre-and post-intervention assessments. Forty-eight male participants with Achilles tendinopathy will be recruited from the community. We will use a 2 × 2 factorial design with factors of load intensity (six or eighteen repetitions maximum) and time-under-tension (two or six second repetitions). Participants will be randomised into one of the testing groups: six RM with two second repetitions, six RM with six second repetitions, eighteen RM with two second repetitions or eighteen RM with six second repetitions. Trial feasibility will be indicated by the rate of conversion, recruitment and retention, adherence to the interventions by participants, the utility of videoconferencing mode for weekly exercise supervision, incidence of adverse events, and feasibility of future economic evaluation. The secondary clinical outcomes will assess pain and disability, participant impression of change, satisfaction, health-related quality of life, physical activity, work absenteeism, psychological measures at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks, and plantarflexor contractile dysfunction (torque, rate of force development and muscle force steadiness) at baseline and 12 weeks. These clinical outcomes are primarily measured to provide information regarding potential treatment effects and trends.

Background One potential reason for disparate outcomes of exercise for Achilles tendinopathy is poor knowledge about whether exercise parameters (i.e. different exercise doses) influence outcome. Whether parameters that are important for tendon adaptation influence clinical outcomes in Achilles tendinopathy has not been investigated. Therefore, this research aimed to assess the feasibility of conducting a fully powered randomised trial to investigate the efficacy of different load-intensity and time-under-tension exercise parameters for Achilles tendinopathy. Methods A factorial four-arm, randomised trial. Forty-eight male participants (18–70 years old) with mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy (≥ 3 months) were recruited. Participants were randomly allocated to high (6 repetition maximum) or low intensity (18 repetition maximum) exercise, performed with either high (6 s per cycle) or low (2 s per cycle) time-under-tension. Participants performed 12-weeks of standing and seated calf raise exercises three times per week in a gym setting using a Smith machine. One session per week was supervised (via videoconference). Primary feasibility outcomes (recruitment and retention rate, exercise adherence and fidelity [i.e. time-under-tension, volume, load intensity], incidence of adverse events, health care use and productivity cost) were collected weekly. Means and standard deviations were determined for parametric data, medians and interquartile range for non-parametric continuous data, and frequency counts for discrete data. Results Total recruitment (76%) and retention (90%) rates were high. Exercise adherence ranged from 45 to 63% and fidelity ranged from 8 to 83% across the groups. Thirty-one participants reported 64 adverse events over the 3 months. Twenty-one participants (70%) reported mild events. Participants reported reduced presenteeism more than absenteeism. Conclusions A fully powered trial is feasible. The proposed trial design and interventions demonstrated acceptable recruitment and retention rates and safety profile. However, exercise fidelity and adherence to the gym-based intervention was not acceptable. Strategies to improve intervention adherence and fidelity should be considered in future trials. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12618001315202. Registered retrospectively on August 6th, 2018.

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