Tendon Stiffness, Strength Deficits and the Neuroscience We're Missing w/ Dr Pat Vallance

<p>with Dr Pat Vallance</p><p>In this episode:</p><ol><li>Bent knee versus straight knee calf raises for Achilles rehab</li><li>Why calf position changes muscle activation</li><li>Achilles tendinopathy and tendon strain</li><li>Tendon stiffness and why it matters</li><li>Whether plyometrics build tendon stiffness</li><li>Whether running should be stopped during rehab</li><li>Load monitoring and pain guided rehab</li><li>Muscular endurance testing with single leg heel raises</li><li>Normative values for calf endurance</li><li>Psychological factors in tendinopathy</li><li>Kinesiophobia and pain catastrophising</li><li>Cortical versus spinal inhibition</li><li>How rehab may differ for Achilles compared with patellar tendinopathy</li></ol><p>Resources mentioned:</p><p>Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia<br><a href="https://www.physio-pedia.com/Tampa_Scale_of_Kinesiophobia">https://www.physio-pedia.com/Tampa_Scale_of_Kinesiophobia</a></p><p>Where to find Pat:</p><p>Tendinopathy Circuit Breaker<br><a href="https://tendinopathycircuitbreaker.com/">https://tendinopathycircuitbreaker.com/</a></p><p>Instagram<br><a href="https://www.instagram.com/tendinopathy_circuit_breaker/">https://www.instagram.com/tendinopathy_circuit_breaker/</a></p><p>Supercharge Your Tendon Rehab course<br><a href="https://events.humanitix.com/supercharge-your-tendon-rehab-cutting-edge-tendon-injury-rehab">https://events.humanitix.com/supercharge-your-tendon-rehab-cutting-edge-tendon-injury-rehab</a></p><p>Pat&#39;s recent publications:</p><p>Vallance, P., Kidgell, D. J., &amp; 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.</p><p>Vallance, P., Malliaras, P., &amp; 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.</p><p>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.</p><p>Vallance, P., Siddique, U., Frazer, A., Malliaras, P., Vicenzino, B., &amp; 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.</p><p>Vallance, P., Kidgell, D. J., Vicenzino, B., &amp; 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.</p>