Tendon Load Management

Tendons require adequate exposure time to a stimulus in order to adapt, and become symptomatic when load is introduced too quickly. An increase in Achilles soreness during return-to-activity indicates an unfavorable loading response and warrants slowing or reducing the progression. Athletes who enter a season after inadequate preparation and rapidly increase playing volume commonly develop tendon pain. Tim Gabbett's acute-to-chronic workload concept is a useful, if imperfect, model for guiding how quickly activity should be progressed.