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Exercise parameters to consider for Achilles tendinopathy: a modified Delphi study with international experts
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Exercise parameters to consider for Achilles tendinopathy: a modified Delphi study with international experts

Yoann Demangeot, Seth O’Neill, Francis Degache, Amandine Rapin, Umer Asgher, Hakan Alfredson, Rachel Chester, Ruth L Chimenti, Robert-Jan de Vos, Adrian Escriche-Escuder, …
British journal of sports medicine, Vol.59(19), pp.1337-1349
10/2025
DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2025-110183
PMCID: PMC12573378
PMID: 40877027
url
https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecuworks2022-2026/6905View
Open Access

Abstract

To assess the level of agreement among experts on the heel raise exercise parameters that influence midportion and insertional Achilles tendinopathy (AT) rehabilitation outcomes.An international expert panel in AT rehabilitation was invited to complete a three-round Delphi survey. In the first two rounds, experts were asked to review a pregenerated list of exercise parameters (based on the heel raise exercise) and rate their perceived influence on rehabilitation outcome, using a 5-point Likert scale. For each parameter, consensus criteria for major influence on rehabilitation were (a) median≥4, (b) ≥75% of scoring 4 or 5 and (c) IQR≤1. The third round aimed to rank the exercise parameters according to importance (from most to least important) during rehabilitation.17 experts participated in the entire Delphi process. A total of 16 exercise parameters were assessed, of which 4 (intensity of contraction, total time under tension, number of repetitions and sets, type of contraction) reached consensus as having a major influence on rehabilitation for midportion AT and 3 reached consensus for insertional AT (range of ankle dorsiflexion during the exercise, intensity of contraction, number of repetitions and sets). The rankings of parameters that reached consensus showed that contraction intensity was perceived as the most important variable for midportion AT rehabilitation, while range of ankle dorsiflexion was deemed the most important variable for insertional AT rehabilitation.This study identified key exercise parameters for mid-portion and insertional AT rehabilitation based on expert opinion. This information should assist practitioners in optimising their approach to deliver more effective, patient-specific exercises for AT rehabilitation.
 Exercise Achilles Tendon Consensus Consensus statement Rehabilitation Tendinopathy

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