Richtlijn 'Chronische achillestendinopathie, in het bijzonder de tendinosis, bij sporters'

- Chronic Achilles tendinopathy in sports often leads to various therapeutic strategies, medical shopping and frequently to inability to perform at the desired level.

- Although it is clear that this chronic tendinopathy is not an inflammatory disease of the tendon, the cause of the degeneration of the tendon fibres is not understood.

- The main therapeutic measure – based on scientific evidence – is eccentric calf-muscle training for at least 3 months.

- Recent therapies such as sclerotherapy of neovascularizations in and around the Achilles tendon appear to be promising, but more studies are required.

- About 20 of the patients tend to be refractive to conservative measures.

- In selected cases surgery can be undertaken, with percutaneous longitudinal tenotomy proving effective in 75-80 of the cases.

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2007;151:2319-24