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Screening for Achilles Injury Risk in Pickleball Players: A Practical, Evidence-Based Guide
Sport Injuries

Screening for Achilles Injury Risk in Pickleball Players: A Practical, Evidence-Based Guide

April 22, 2026

By: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS Pickleball continues to grow rapidly, but so do lower extremity injuries, particularly involving the Achilles tendon. The combination of quick acceleration, deceleration, and repetitive loading places significant strain on this structure. Research in sports medicine and tendon physiology consistently shows that Achilles injuries are rarely sudden events. Instead, they...

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Sport Injuries

Achilles Tendinopathy and Mend Physical Therapy Solutions

August 17, 2015

Achilles Tendon Problems Achilles tendinopathy commonly occurs in runners and jumpers, with up to 50% experiencing the condition in their lifetime(1). Not all those affected are active with 33% of individuals reporting a sedentary lifestyle(2). Individuals with this condition report pain, stiffness, and loss of function with daily and recreational activities. This condition was originally...

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Sport Injuries

Why is eccentric exercise helpful for achilles tendinopathy?

September 16, 2015

One of things I enjoy about the profession of Physical Therapy is its’ constantly changing nature of the medical evidence behind what we do.  Often I come across a new article or research report, which challenges my previous line of thought about an injury or treatment and requires me to change.  Achilles Tendinopathy is commonly and...

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Sport Injuries

Economic Cost of Running Injuries

September 30, 2015

Mend Physical Therapy has previously written on the prevention and treatment of running injuries  in multiple prior blog posts.    Running is very common form of exercise in the United States and here Boulder County. The vast majority of runners will sustain an injury in the upcoming year which will prevent them from training or competing...

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Treatments

Preventing Recurrence of Achilles Tendinopathy and Return to Sport

October 2, 2015

In prior posts we described risk factors for an initial episode of achilles tendinopathy including muscle imbalances, calf weakness (concentric and eccentric), and loss of mobility within the foot and ankle.  Once the tendinopathy is established, patients demonstrate significant deficits in range of motion, strength, balance, endurance, and jumping ability (Silbernagel et al. 2006).  These...

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Sport Injuries

How Important is Imaging for Tendon Pain and Injury?

October 2, 2015

Our prior posts on tendon injuries have described the structural changes that take place with chronic symptomatic tendinopathies.  The disorganization of tendon fibers and the body’s attempts to heal the injured tendon are best viewed on ultrasound or MRI imaging.  MRI is a very sensitive tool, but lacks specificity meaning a positive finding may or...

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Sport Injuries

Foot Orthotics and Overuse Injury

October 26, 2015

Customized foot orthotics based off a clinical examination, plaster or foam cast have been utilized for decades in order to treat overuse injuries of the foot, ankle, knee, hip and even spine.  These orthotics are usually not covered by insurance and usually run into the hundreds of dollars compared to an off the shelf model....

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Sport Injuries

Ankle Mobility Techniques

December 28, 2015

Ankle mobility is essential for both daily walking tasks as well as higher level athletics and sports participation.  In our Physical Therapy practice in Boulder we see a loss of dorsiflexion, bending, among athletes with lower extremity injuries and conditions.  A lack of ankle bend, dorsiflexion, has been associated with many conditions including heel pain, plantar...

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