Factors associated with Achilles tendinopathy and MTSS
When compared to healthy controls, runners with Achilles tendinopathy (AT) and medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) showed greater tibial varus, reduced dorsiflexion ROM, increased rearfoot eversion at heel-off and increased duration of eversion during their running stance phase. These measures may be helpful in identifying which runners are at increased risk of developing these injuries.
Running is a popular activity worldwide. Overuse injuries in runners are common, with AT and MTSS both included in the top 5. Evidence regarding rearfoot eversion factors in the development of these pathologies has been conflicting and centered in its excursion rather than in its duration. The authors hypothesize that the duration of eversion during the stance phase is a contributing factor to both pathologies.
42 subjects (21 injured, 21 healthy) underwent a lower limb clinical examination focused on alignment, mobility and flexibility as well as motion and ground reaction force analysis of their running pattern.
Runners with AT and MTSS had a greater tibial varus and less passive dorsiflexion ROM. The kinetic and kinematic analysis revealed these subjects also had an increased period of rearfoot pronation during the stance phase and a greater degree of eversion at heel-off. Results indicate these factors may play a role in both pathologies and that the duration of eversion is more important than the degree of excursion.
> From: Becker et al., Am J Sports Med 45 (2017) 2614-2621(Epub ahead of print). All rights reserved to American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine. Click here for the online summary.
