Comparison of Alfredson and Silbernagel Protocol in Competitive Athletes With Achilles Tendinopathy

Inclusion criteria: * Athletes performing track and field, tennis or football at the competitive level * Age 18 to 40 years * Unilateral Achilles tendinopathy * Pain lasting more than 2 months * Diagnosis of Achilles tendinopathy established by pain on function at the Achilles region and ultrasound assessment (tendon thickening, swollen tendon) by one researcher * Participants trained at least 3 times per week before the onset of Achilles tendinopathy * Less than 3 months without training and less than 6 months from the last competition/match * Wish to return to original sport level * Willing to stop with other treatments 2 weeks before the start of the clinical trial Exclusion criteria: * Achilles tendon rupture in past * Corticosteroid injection in Achilles tendon region in last 6 months * Having other lower limb musculoskeletal injuries or surgery in the last 6 months (e.g., muscle rupture, bone fracture) * Having a neurological, systemic or autoimmune disease (e.g., neuropathy, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis)