with Dr Pat Vallance
In this episode:
- Bent knee versus straight knee calf raises for Achilles rehab
- Why calf position changes muscle activation
- Achilles tendinopathy and tendon strain
- Tendon stiffness and why it matters
- Whether plyometrics build tendon stiffness
- Whether running should be stopped during rehab
- Load monitoring and pain guided rehab
- Muscular endurance testing with single leg heel raises
- Normative values for calf endurance
- Psychological factors in tendinopathy
- Kinesiophobia and pain catastrophising
- Cortical versus spinal inhibition
- How rehab may differ for Achilles compared with patellar tendinopathy
Resources mentioned:
Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia
https://www.physio-pedia.com/Tampa_Scale_of_Kinesiophobia
Where to find Pat:
Tendinopathy Circuit Breaker
https://tendinopathycircuitbreaker.com/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/tendinopathy_circuit_breaker/
Supercharge Your Tendon Rehab course
https://events.humanitix.com/supercharge-your-tendon-rehab-cutting-edge-tendon-injury-rehab
Pat's recent publications:
Vallance, P., Kidgell, D. J., & Malliaras, P. (2026). Greater endogenous pain facilitation is associated with lower spinal excitability and maximal knee extension strength deficits in athletes with patellar tendinopathy. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 1-14.
Vallance, P., Malliaras, P., & Kidgell, D. J. (2026). Temporal motor evoked potential decomposition reveals that cortico-reticulospinal excitability is increased in athletes with patellar tendinopathy. Preliminary evidence of compensatory adaptation for diminished motor drive. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 103142.
Vallance, P. (2025). Neural deficits relevant to pain symptoms and functional impairments in individuals with Achilles or patellar tendinopathy (PhD Academy Award). British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Vallance, P., Siddique, U., Frazer, A., Malliaras, P., Vicenzino, B., & Kidgell, D. J. (2025). Transcranial magnetic stimulation and electrical stimulation techniques used to measure the excitability of distinct neuronal populations that influence motor output in people with persistent musculoskeletal conditions: A scoping review and narrative synthesis of evidence. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 103011.
Vallance, P., Kidgell, D. J., Vicenzino, B., & Malliaras, P. (2025). Endogenous pain modulation is not different in basketball or volleyball athletes with patellar tendinopathy compared to asymptomatic athletic controls. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 76, 103280.
