Frequency of Achilles Tendinopathy Among Football Players in Rawalpindi and Islamabad

Achilles Tendinopathy in Football Players

Authors

  • Muhammad Ibtsam ul Hussain Department of Physiotherapy, Islamabad College of Physiotherapy, Margalla Institute of Health Sciences, Quaid e Azam Avenue, Gulraiz Phase 3, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, 46000.
  • Mehr un Nisa Department of Physiotherapy, Islamabad College of Physiotherapy, Margalla Institute of Health Sciences, Quaid e Azam Avenue, Gulraiz Phase 3, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, 46000.
  • Iqra Asif Department of Physiotherapy, Islamabad College of Physiotherapy, Margalla Institute of Health Sciences, Quaid e Azam Avenue, Gulraiz Phase 3, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, 46000.
  • Fatima Amjad Senior Lecturer, Department of Physiotherapy, Islamabad College of Physiotherapy, Margalla Institute of Health Sciences, Quaid e Azam Avenue, Gulraiz Phase 3, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, 46000

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61919/jhrr.v4i3.1385

Keywords:

Achilles tendinopathy, football injuries, VISA-A, prevalence, overuse injuries, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, sports medicine.

Abstract

Background: Football is a widely popular sport with a high risk of overuse injuries, including Achilles tendinopathy, which can impair performance and cause long-term disability.
Objective: This study aimed to determine the frequency of Achilles tendinopathy among football players in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 261 football players from various clubs in Rawalpindi and Islamabad between March 27, 2023, and January 30, 2024. Participants aged 13 to 19 years who had been playing for at least six months were included. Achilles tendinopathy was assessed using the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, with descriptive statistics used to report frequencies and percentages.
Results: Out of 261 participants, 52 (20%) had Achilles tendinopathy as indicated by VISA-A scores below 95. The mean age was 15.82 ± 1.75 years, mean height 154.45 ± 18.08 cm, mean weight 49.35 ± 13.09 kg, and mean BMI 21.02 ± 5.81.
Conclusion: The study established a 20% prevalence of Achilles tendinopathy among football players in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, highlighting the need for targeted preventive strategies.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Leitner MC, Daumann F, Follert F, Richlan F. The cauldron has cooled down: a systematic literature review on home advantage in football during the COVID-19 pandemic from a socio-economic and psychological perspective. Management Review Quarterly. 2023;73(2):605-33.

Amjad F, Latif D, Hanif S, Bashir K, Batool R, Khalid U. Functional Movement Screen Differences in Male and Female Footballers and as an Injury Prevention Tool: Functional Movement Screen Differences. Pakistan Journal of Health Sciences. 2023:30-4.

Winnicki K, Ochała-Kłos A, Rutowicz B, Pękala PA, Tomaszewski KA. Functional anatomy, histology and biomechanics of the human Achilles tendon—A comprehensive review. Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger. 2020;229:151461.

Fryar C, Tilley D, Casey E, Vincent H. A research and clinical framework for understanding achilles injury in female collegiate gymnasts. Current Sports Medicine Reports. 2023;22(7):260-7.

Lieberthal K, Paterson KL, Cook J, Kiss Z, Girdwood M, Bradshaw EJ. Prevalence and factors associated with asymptomatic Achilles tendon pathology in male distance runners. Physical Therapy in Sport. 2019;39:64-8.

Wang Y, Zhou H, Nie Z, Cui S. Prevalence of Achilles tendinopathy in physical exercise: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine and Health Science. 2022;4(3):152-9.

van Sluijs EM, Ekelund U, Crochemore-Silva I, Guthold R, Ha A, Lubans D, et al. Physical activity behaviours in adolescence: current evidence and opportunities for intervention. The Lancet. 2021;398(10298):429-42.

IFTIKHAR M, FAROOQ MN, AMJAD F, MALIK Z, SHAKEEL R, TANVEER R. PREVALENCE OF KNEE PAIN IN FEMALE FOOTBALLERS.

Maffulli N, Oliva F, Loppini M, Aicale R, Spiezia F, King JB. The Royal London Hospital Test for the clinical diagnosis of patellar tendinopathy. Muscles, Ligaments and Tendons Journal. 2017;7(2):315.

Cassel M, Baur H, Hirschmüller A, Carlsohn A, Fröhlich K, Mayer F. Prevalence of A chilles and patellar tendinopathy and their association to intratendinous changes in adolescent athletes. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports. 2015;25(3):e310-e8.

Ferreira VM, Oliveira RR, Nazareno TS, Freitas LV, Mendonça LD. Interaction of foot and hip factors identifies Achilles tendinopathy occurrence in recreational runners. Physical Therapy in Sport. 2020;45:111-9.

Li HY, Hua YH. Achilles Tendinopathy: Current Concepts about the Basic Science and Clinical Treatments. 2016;2016:6492597.

Chukwuemeka U, Anyoku C, Onwuakagba I, Akobundu U. Prevalence and Risk Factors of Achilles Tendinopathy among University Soccer Players. Int J Sports Exerc Med. 2022;8:223.

Van der Vlist AC, Breda SJ, Oei EH, Verhaar JA, de Vos R-J. Clinical risk factors for Achilles tendinopathy: a systematic review. British journal of sports medicine. 2019;53(21):1352-61.

Chang R, Tsang RC-C, Jiang D, Liu D, Ruan B, Lin G, et al. Cross-cultural adaptation and measurement properties of the VISA-A questionnaire for Chinese patients with Achilles Tendinopathy. Physical Therapy in Sport. 2021;52:256-62.

Bello B, Sa’Ad U, Ibrahim A, Mamuda A. Pattern and risk factors of sport injuries among amateur football players in Kano, Nigeria. Human Movement. 2020;21(4):61-8.

Ackermann PW, Phisitkul P, Pearce CJ. Achilles tendinopathy–pathophysiology: state of the art. Journal of ISAKOS. 2018;3(5):304-14.

Murphy M, Travers M, Gibson W, Chivers P, Debenham J, Docking S, et al. Rate of improvement of pain and function in mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy with loading protocols: a systematic review and longitudinal meta-analysis. Sports Medicine. 2018;48:1875-91.

Aiyegbusi A, Owoeye I, Balogun O, Fapojuwo O, Akinloye O. Prevalence of Achilles Tendinopathy and Associated Selected Intrinsic Risk Factors among Nigerian Footballers. Muscles, Ligaments & Tendons Journal (MLTJ). 2021;11(1).

Florit D, Pedret C, Casals M, Malliaras P, Sugimoto D, Rodas G. Incidence of tendinopathy in team sports in a multidisciplinary sports club over 8 seasons. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine. 2019;18(4):780.

Downloads

Published

2024-09-11

How to Cite

Muhammad Ibtsam ul Hussain, Mehr un Nisa, Iqra Asif, & Fatima Amjad. (2024). Frequency of Achilles Tendinopathy Among Football Players in Rawalpindi and Islamabad: Achilles Tendinopathy in Football Players. Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Research, 4(3), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.61919/jhrr.v4i3.1385

Most read articles by the same author(s)