Project

Achilles and Patellar Tendinopathy Risk Factors

Primary
Investigator:
Sarah Morton
Co-investigators: Amit Chauhan
  Otto Chan
  Dylan Morrissey

Two questionnaires were developed in 2012 to look at the risk factors behind Achilles and patellar tendinopathy. Both questionnaires have been proven to be valid and reliable (Morton et al., BASEM 2013). Two separate sets of data have been collected for patients diagnosed with Achilles and patellar tendinopathy, athletes considered high risk for both Achilles and patellar tendinopathy (basketball and volleyball players) and controls to allow comparison.

Since August 2013 the patellar questionnaire has been translated into both Italian and Spanish in collaboration with Barcelona FC. Data has continued to be collected in the UK, Spain and Italy since then.

The Achilles tendinopathy questionnaire has been translated into Dutch and Greek.

The results and findings from both Achilles and patellar tendinopathy questionnaires will be analysed in Summer 2014. It is hoped this will allow a better understanding of Achilles and patellar tendinopathy to gain insight into both the treatment and prevention of the condition. Further research is warranted in specific sub-groups, such as those with long-term conditions which may represent co-morbidities, or prospective studies in high risk cohorts.

Recently a systematic review has been carried out to determine which loci have been detected to be associated with mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy. This may have implications for its prevention and management. Gene therapy may have a role in the healing of tendons, but further research is necessary to develop risk models and establish the most advantageous genes to transfer.

Future work will involve publishing systematic reviews on biomechanical, pharmacological, metabolic and activity-related risk factors for mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy.