Welcome to today’s episode!
Let’s talk about Achilles tendinopathy—a common condition, especially in runners and those who suddenly increase their activity level. If you’re preparing for Step 2 CK, this is a high-yield topic that often shows up in musculoskeletal and sports medicine questions.
So, what do you need to know? Achilles tendinopathy presents as gradual-onset pain at the back of the ankle, often worsening with activity and improving with rest. You’ll find tenderness 2 to 6 cm above the calcaneal insertion—the classic exam finding.
Now, how do we manage it?
For acute cases, the first steps are activity modification, ice, and NSAIDs for symptom relief. But for chronic symptoms, the most important treatment is eccentric strengthening exercises—heel drops on a step, where you slowly lower your body to stretch and strengthen the tendon. This has the best long-term outcomes.
A few high-yield testable points:
Corticosteroid injections? Avoid them—they can weaken the tendon and increase rupture risk.
NSAIDs for long-term use? Not helpful in chronic cases.
Surgery? Only for severe cases that don’t improve with conservative treatment.
So, the key takeaway? Eccentric exercises are the best therapy for chronic Achilles tendinopathy—and that’s your correct answer on test day!
Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode!
