The Difference in Achilles Tendon Loading within Immobilizing Boots Based on Ankle Angle, Boot Type, and Walking Speed

Background: Achilles tendon rupture is an increasingly common injury treated with progressive rehabilitation in an immobilizing boot. However, it is poorly understood how ankle angle, boot type, and walking speed affect Achilles tendon loading.

Hypothesis: These different parameters would affect Achilles tendon loading in terms of (from greatest to least) ankle angle constraint, immobilization style, boot construction, and walking speed.

Study design: Descriptive laboratory study.

Methods: Ten healthy young adults (8 women and 2 men; age, 21 ± 2 years; body mass index, 21.5 ± 3.0 kg/m²) walked in 3 different immobilizing boots at self-selected slow, medium, and fast walking speeds. The authors estimated Achilles tendon loading using a 3-part instrumented insole within the immobilizing boot. The authors averaged tendon load across every stride for each condition and calculated 2-sided bootstrap confidence intervals. Peak tendon loading was compared across all boots, ankle angles, and walking speeds.

Results: All boots and immobilization styles decreased tendon loading with respect to shod walking. Immobilization angle had the largest effect on tendon loading, followed by boot construction, and finally walking speed.

Conclusion: Ankle angle, boot type, and walking speed can be modified to change loading progression during rehabilitation.

Clinical relevance: Understanding how immobilization affects tendon loading will enable clinicians to modify rehabilitation to improve functional outcomes.