SynthesisSports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)2026
Incidence, Temporal Trends, and Surgical Shift of Achilles Tendon Rupture: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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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.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Return to Sport and Return to Self-Reported Preinjury Level After Surgical Repair of Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture: A 2-Year Prospective Cohort Analysis.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Acceleration and Injury-Frame Biomechanics in Achilles Tendon Rupture: A Systematic Review.Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology · 2026Review
- Criteria for Return to Running After Surgical Repair of Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture: A Modified Delphi Consensus Study.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAchilles tendon rupture is a severe injury affecting active and non-active populations, with considerable consequences on mobility, return to sport, and long-term function. Population-based incidence estimates provide important information for public health policy and resource allocation.
objectiveThis systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the global incidence of Achilles tendon rupture, evaluate temporal trends over six decades, and analyze subgroup differences by sex, age, region, and sport participation. Additionally, we examined trends in surgical treatment over time.
methodsA systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Six databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, Index Medicus, and Google Scholar) were searched through April 2025 to identify population-based studies reporting Achilles tendon rupture incidence. Only studies based on registries or representative samples were included. Random-effects models were used to pool incidence rates, and meta-regressions assessed time trends and subgroup differences. Incidence rates were calculated per 100,000 person-years and stratified by sex, age, country, geographic region, and sport participation. Surgical treatment trends were analyzed using quadratic meta-regression. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool.
resultsTwenty-eight studies reporting Achilles tendon ruptures from 1950 to 2022 were included, representing over 630 million individuals and 568,000 Achilles tendon rupture cases. The pooled global incidence was 15.7 per 100,000 person-years, spanning from 6.1 in 1979 to 31.1 per 100,000 person-years in 2021, with an average annual increase of 2.7% (95% confidence interval 2.0-3.3%). Male individuals exhibited a three-fold higher incidence than female individuals (pooled ratio 3.18; 95% confidence interval 2.50-4.04). Incidence peaked in male individuals aged 30-49 years (42.6 per 100,000 person-years) and in female individuals aged 40-49 years (17.2 per 100,000 person-years). Approximately 68% of Achilles tendon rupture were sport related. A significant shift in treatment patterns was observed: surgical repair rates peaked in 2003 and declined thereafter, indicating an increase in conservative treatment over the last 2 decades.
conclusionsThe incidence of Achilles tendon rupture has risen steadily over the last six decades, with the greatest burden observed among middle-aged physically active men. A majority of ruptures are sport related, highlighting the need for preventive interventions. Surgical treatment has declined since 2003, reflecting shifts toward conservative management. These findings underscore the importance of continued surveillance, targeted prevention, and individualized treatment strategies to reduce the growing burden of Achilles tendon rupture worldwide. CLINICAL
trial registrationPROSPERO registration ID: CRD420251020247.
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