Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40347594›Full record

SynthesisBrazilian journal of physical therapy

Achilles tendinopathy physical impairments evaluated through clinician-friendly measures: a systematic review with meta-analysis and GRADE recommendations.

Victor M L M Ferreira, Rafael Z Pinto, Guy Simoneau, Lívia S Pogetti, Renan A Resende, Juliana M Ocarino

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Brazilian journal of physical therapy. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Victor M L M FerreiraGraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Sports Training Center, Department of Physical Therapy, School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Rafael Z PintoGraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Sports Training Center, Department of Physical Therapy, School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Discipline of Physiotherapy, Graduate School of Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Guy SimoneauPhysical Therapy Department, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Lívia S PogettiGraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Sports Training Center, Department of Physical Therapy, School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Renan A ResendeGraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Sports Training Center, Department of Physical Therapy, School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Juliana M OcarinoGraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Sports Training Center, Department of Physical Therapy, School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: jocarino@ufmg.br.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundClinician-friendly tests, defined as affordable, portable, and readily available, can facilitate assessing and treating Achilles tendinopathy.

objectiveTo identify physical impairments in individuals with Achilles tendinopathy using clinician-friendly tests.

methodsSearches were performed in Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Sportdiscus for studies comparing physical function between individuals with Achilles tendinopathy and controls using clinician-friendly measures. Study quality was assessed using the Downs and Black scale, and evidence certainty using GRADE approach. When possible, data were pooled through meta-analysis.

resultsSeventeen studies were included with 12 contributing to quantitative synthesis. Meta-analyses showed individuals with Achilles tendinopathy when compared with an asymptomatic group had: lower ankle dorsiflexion in a non-weight bearing position with knee bent (mean difference [MD] = 5.22, 95 % CI: 2.16, 8.28), lower ankle plantar flexion endurance on heel raises (MD = 10.47 repetitions, 95 % CI: 7.17, 13.76), and lower hip extension isometric strength (Effect Size= 0.49, 95 % CI: 0.12, 2.59). In those with Achilles tendinopathy, effect size analysis showed a greater Achilles tendon angle and tibia varus compared to an asymptomatic group, greater first ray and midfoot abduction laxity than the asymptomatic limb, and impaired jump performance compared to asymptomatic individuals and limb.

conclusionLow to moderate certainty evidence suggests those with Achilles tendinopathy have less ankle dorsiflexion, lower hip extension strength, lower ankle plantar flexion endurance, impaired hop performance, and greater Achilles tendon angle, tibia varus alignment, and first ray and midfoot abduction laxity. Clinicians should consider these impairments when assessing patients with Achilles tendinopathy.

Indexed as

Achilles TendonTendinopathyHumansMuscle StrengthAchilles tendonAnkle injuriesFoot injuriesLower extremity

Identifiers

PMID40347594
PMCPMC12139408

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.