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. 2020 Dec 17;5(4):95. doi: 10.3390/jfmk5040095

Table 1.

Post-treatment interventions and findings.

Author Year Type of Study No. of Patients Treatment Post-Treatment Intervention Findings
Aufwerber et al. [66] 2020 RCT 149 (98 EFM, 51 IM) Surgery

  • EFM group: dynamic orthosis, WB as tolerated;

  • IM group: below-knee plaster cast, NWB.

  • Higher scores in general health and vitality at 6 months in the EFM group.
Kim et al. [67] 2017 Case control study (therapeutic) 56 (32 ER, 24 CR) Surgery

  • ER group: short leg splint, tolerable WB at 2-week follow-up;

  • CR group: below-knee cast, tolerable WB at 4-week follow-up.

  • Better results regarding return to work in the ER group;

  • Better Achilles functional score in the ER group.
Costa et al. [68] 2020 RCT 540 (274 FB, 266 IM) Conservative

  • FB group: FB with EWB;

  • IM group: plaster cast, EFM with crutches, NWB on injured hindfoot.

  • Similar outcomes to traditional plaster casting with FB plus EWB;

  • FB safe option for non-operative treatment.
Maempel et al. [69] 2020 RCT 140 (69 FR+EWB, 71 IM) Conservative

  • FR+EWB group: walking boot, immediate FWB;

  • IM group: immobilizing cast, 8 weeks of NWB.

  • FR with EWB safe alternative to traditional IM;

  • Better early functional outcomes with FR.
Hutchinson et al. [70] 2015 Descriptive case series 273 (SMART programme) Surgery, conservative

  • SMART group: functional orthoses, EWB, accelerated exercise regime.

  • Low re-rupture rate;

  • Satisfactory outcomes;

  • Reduced rate of surgical intervention;

  • Reduced healthcare costs.
Aujla et al. [71] 2019 Prospective comparative study 442 (LAMP protocol) Conservative

  • LAMP group: 8-week functional dynamic treatment, functional boot with EWB.

  • Less overall time in the boot;

  • Low complication rates;

  • Similar patient reported outcomes.
Aufwerber et al. [72] 2020 Cohort study 86 (55 EFM, 31 IM) Surgery

  • EFM group: dynamic orthosis, FWB;

  • IM group: below-knee plaster cast, NWB.

  • More elongation at early healing with EFM, but it subsides over time.
Valkering et al. [73] 2017 RCT 56 (27 FWB, 29 IM) Surgery

  • FWB group: functional mobilization, functional boot;

  • IM group: below-knee plaster cast, NWB.

  • Enhanced early healing response with functional WB in the FWB group;

  • Improved early ankle range of motion without risk of elongation in the FWB group.

RCT = randomized controlled trial; EFM = early functional mobilization; IM = immobilization; WB = weightbearing; NWB = non-weightbearing; ER = early rehabilitation; CR = conventional rehabilitation; FB = functional bracing; EWB = early weightbearing; FR = functional rehabilitation; SMART = Swansea Morriston Achilles Rupture Treatment; LAMP = Leicester Achilles Management Protocol; FWB = full weightbearing.