EFFECTIVENESS OF RESISTANCE TRAINING IN THE REHABILITATION OF SOCCER AND BASKETBALL PLAYERS WITH ACHILLES TENDINOPATHY
Keywords:
Achilles tendinopathy, resistance training, eccentric exercise, football, basketball, rehabilitationAbstract
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46296/gt.v9i18edespsep.0433
Abstract
Achilles tendinopathy affects running, jumping and multidirectional tasks in football and basketball. This review assessed the effectiveness of resistance-based exercise on pain, function, tendon mechanical properties and return to sport. The systematic review followed the guidelines from Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement. An indexed database search from January 2021 to August 2026 was completed using keywords for Achilles tendinopathy, exercise, loading, rehabilitation, resistance. After removing duplicates, 79 articles were screened for eligibility, 48 full texts were evaluated. In total, 30 articles were included in the systematic review. Progressive loading programs seem to improve pain and function, but no exercise program was found to be superior over another; however, eccentrics, heavy slow resistance and progression loading seem effective. Tendon load may be influenced by dosage, ankle dorsiflexion, speed, and task. Very low evidence for exclusively footballers and basketballers with verified Achilles tendinopathy indicates resistance may benefit rehabilitation, while also ensuring that resistance is based on the site of tendinopathy, symptom irritability, load tolerance, and the demands of the sport.
Keywords: Achilles tendinopathy, resistance training, eccentric exercise, football, basketball, rehabilitation.
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References
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