How tendon loading affects healing in Achilles injuries
Official title: Tendon loading profiles that promote healing in Achilles tendinopathy
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-10986967 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how different ways of using your Achilles tendon can help it heal better if you have Achilles tendinopathy, and it aims to create personalized rehab plans to improve your recovery based on how your tendon behaves during daily activities.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $435,674 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR078898-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10986967 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with mid-substance Achilles tendinopathy, particularly those who have not fully recovered from their symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with acute Achilles tendon injuries or those who do not have mid-substance tendinopathy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how different loading profiles of the Achilles tendon can influence healing in patients suffering from mid-substance Achilles tendinopathy. By continuously monitoring tendon loading during rehabilitation and daily activities, the study aims to identify patient subgroups based on their biomechanics. The goal is to develop personalized rehabilitation protocols that enhance recovery from both acute and chronic Achilles tendon injuries. Innovative techniques, including ultrasound stress-imaging, will be utilized to assess tendon status and its impact on pain and functional outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective rehabilitation strategies that significantly improve recovery and reduce pain for patients with Achilles tendinopathy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using biomechanical approaches to improve rehabilitation outcomes for tendon injuries, indicating that this study builds on established methods.
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.
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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.
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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.