Finding the best tendon loading to help Achilles tendon heal
Official title: Tendon loading profiles that promote healing in Achilles tendinopathy
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11251618 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at different ways people load their Achilles tendon during rehab and daily life to help those with Achilles tendon pain recover better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2021 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $404,233 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR078898-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11251618 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with mid‑substance (non‑insertional) Achilles tendinopathy who can attend clinic visits, undergo ultrasound imaging, and wear activity/pressure sensors during daily activities are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with insertional Achilles problems, recent Achilles tendon rupture/repair, or those unable to follow monitoring or rehab protocols may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
If you have mid‑substance Achilles tendinopathy, researchers will monitor how your tendon is loaded throughout the day and during rehab exercises using wearable sensors. They will also use ultrasound stress‑imaging to measure tendon condition and biomechanics. By grouping patients with similar loading and tendon properties, the team aims to link those patterns to pain, healing, and function. The goal is to use those findings to tailor rehab programs so more people regain strength and reduce long‑term symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to personalized rehab plans that reduce long‑term pain and restore muscle‑tendon function for people with Achilles tendinopathy.
How similar studies have gone: Traditional heel‑rise and eccentric exercise programs help some patients but many continue to have symptoms, and continuous load‑monitoring combined with ultrasound stress imaging is a newer, not yet widely proven approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baxter, Josh — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Baxter, Josh
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Personalized Achilles tendon rehab: how loading in daily life affects healing
A person with mid-substance Achilles tendinopathy could benefit from a personalized rehab plan based on how their daily activities load the tendon.
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Achilles Tendinopathy Center of Translation
A center-led program aims to uncover basic science and translational tools to improve care for people with Achilles tendinopathy.
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Understanding the muscle-subtendon units in Achilles tendinopathy
This project explores why Achilles tendinopathy affects people differently by looking closely at the ankle’s tendon structure and how it responds to treatments.
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Exosome-based biologic treatment for tendinopathy
A new exosome-based therapy called Altenex aims to treat tendinopathy safely and effectively in adults.
-
Quantifying Achilles Tendon Stress in Dancers to Prevent Tendinopathy
Aimed at female ballet dancers, this project will measure Achilles tendon stress during dance and develop better tools to monitor pain and guide injury prevention and recovery.
-
Role of CaV1.2 calcium channels in Achilles tendinopathy
This grant explores how a calcium channel called CaV1.2 may drive tendinopathy in the Achilles tendon and what this could mean for new treatments.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.