In this episode of the Owens Recovery Science podcast we chat with Laura Opstedal, PT of Build Physio in Bozeman, MT. Laura has extensive experience rehabbing Achilles repairs over the course of her career which provides her a first-hand perspective on the evolution of surgical techniques as well as integrating forms of measurement like force plates and novel treatment strategies like early weight bearing and BFR. Within we talk all things Achilles which apparently we’re now calling the Taylor Swift of tendons.

You can find Laura at:

@build.physio on IG

@thekhakifreept on IG

@lauraopstedal on Twitter

Some references from our ramblings:

Baxter, J. R., Corrigan, P., Hullfish, T. J., O’Rourke, P., & Silbernagel, K. G. (2021). Exercise Progression to Incrementally Load the Achilles Tendon. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 53(1), 124–130.

Demangeot, Y., Whiteley, R., Gremeaux, V., & Degache, F. (2023). The load borne by the Achilles tendon during exercise: A systematic review of normative values. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 33(2), 110–126.

Yang, J., Hodax, J. D., Machan, J. T., Krill, M. K., Lemme, N. J., Durand, W. M., Hoffman, J. T., Hewett, T. E., & Owens, B. D. (2019). Factors Affecting Return to Play After Primary Achilles Tendon Tear: A Cohort of NFL Players. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 7(3), 2325967119830139.

Owens, J. G., Rauzi, M. R., Kittelson, A., Graber, J., Bade, M. J., Johnson, J., & Nabhan, D. (2020). How New Technology Is Improving Physical Therapy. Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-020-09610-6

Centner, C., Jerger, S., Lauber, B., Seynnes, O., Friedrich, T., Lolli, D., Gollhofer, A., & König, D. (2023). Similar patterns of tendon regional hypertrophy after low-load blood flow restriction and high-load resistance training. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14321

Centner, C., Lauber, B., Seynnes, O. R., Jerger, S., Sohnius, T., Gollhofer, A., & König, D. (2019). Low-load blood flow restriction training induces similar morphological and mechanical Achilles tendon adaptations compared to high-load resistance training. Journal of Applied Physiology. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00602.2019

Castle, J. P., Tramer, J. S., Turner, E. H. G., Cotter, D., McGee, A., Abbas, M., Gasparro, M. A., Lynch, T. S., & Moutzouros, V. (2023). Survey of blood flow restriction therapy for rehabilitation in Sports Medicine patients. Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology: Official Journal of the Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jor.2023.03.007

Yow, B. G., Tennent, D. J., Dowd, T. C., Loenneke, J. P., & Owens, J. G. (2018). Blood Flow Restriction Training After Achilles Tendon Rupture. The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery: Official Publication of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jfas.2017.11.008

Hansen, O. B., Papson, A., Eble, S. K., & Drakos, M. C. (2022). Effect of Blood Flow Restriction Therapy Following Achilles Rupture and Repair: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics, 7(1), 2473011421S00032.

Bentzen, A., Jørgensen, S. L., Birch, S., Mortensen, L., Toft, M., Lindvig, M. G., Gundtoft, P. H., & Mechlenburg, I. (2024). Feasibility of Blood Flow Restriction Exercise in Adults with a Non-surgically Treated Achilles Tendon Rupture; a Case Series. International Journal of Exercise Science, 17(3), 140–153.