Table 2.

For specific aim 1, study outcomes will be assessed pretreatment (week 0 at evaluation session 1), after completion of education combined with exercise (week 8 at evaluation session 2), and after 4 weeks of continuing the home exercise program at home (week 12 at evaluation session 3).

Outcome			Description	Time (weeks)
				0	8	12
Specific aim 1
	Pain
		Movement-evoked pain during heel raisesa	Participants will rate the intensity and location of their Achilles tendon pain using the 11-point NPRSb during maximum number of single limb heel raises and 3 single limb hops [33,34]. Pain will be assessed during movement activities using the NPRS which consists of a 0-10 scale where 0 represent “no pain” and 10 represents “worst pain imaginable.” Test-retest reliability: r=0.67-0.96. Convergent validity: r=0.79-0.95 [34]	Xc	X	—d
		Anticipated movement-evoked pain	Participants will rate the anticipated intensity of their Achilles tendon pain using a 101-point NPRS before heel raises and before hopping [33]	X	X	X
		Tendon stiffness	Participants will rate the average duration of stiffness in the Achilles tendon in the morning from 0 to ≥100 min over the past week	X	X	X
		Global rating of change	Anticipated and final change in the overall condition of the Achilles tendon on a 15-point scale. Test-retest reliability: ICCe 0.90. Face validity: r=0.72-0.90 [35]	X	X	X
		Anticipated change in symptoms	Anticipated and final change in symptoms on a 15-point scale following physical therapy [35]	X	X	X
	Function
		Global physical functiona	Self-reported physical function will be assessed with the patient-reported outcomes measurement information system 2.0 and computer adaptive test physical function, which has been used in orthopedic and Achilles tendon populations [18,19]. Internal consistency reliability: r=0.96. Convergent validity: r=0.68-0.79 [36]	X	X	X
		Achilles tendon function	Function will be assessed with the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles questionnaire as a symptom severity measure with activity that is specific to patients with ATf. Test-retest reliability: r=0.93. Construct validity: r=0.58 [37]	X	X	X
		Activity log	Self-reported activity, including type (aerobic and strengthening) and duration per week on the home exercise log for first week compared with last week of exercise-education program	—	X	—
		Activity level	International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short-Form and self-reported activity levels including number of days and time spend completing vigorous or moderate activity, walking or sitting over past 7 days. Test-retest reliability: r=0.32-0.88. Criterion validity: r=0.12-0.57 [38]	X	X	X
		Patient-specific functional scale	Patient-reported ability to complete self-selected activities on an 11-point scale: 0=unable to perform activity and 10=able to perform activity at previous level. Test-retest: r=0.84 [39]. Concurrent validity: r=0.55-0.83 [40]	X	—	X

^aPrimary outcomes.

^bNPRS: numeric pain rating scale.

^cOutcome collected at timepoint.

^dOutcome not collected at timepoint.

^eICC: intraclass correlation coefficient.

^fAT: Achilles tendinopathy.