Course Breakdown

Module 1 — Understanding Tendons
What tendons are • Structure and function • How tendons transfer and store force • Tendon healing and adaptation • Common tendon problems • Key terminology: tendinitis, tendinosis and tendinopathy

Module 2 — Understanding Tendon Pathology
Why the traditional inflammation model is incomplete • The tendon continuum model • Reactive tendinopathy • Tendon disrepair • Degenerative tendinopathy • How excessive or inappropriate loading affects tendon health

Module 3 — Tendon Loading & Capacity
Understanding tissue capacity • Too much, too soon • Mechanical loading • How tendons adapt to load • Underloading and overloading • Building capacity safely

Module 4 — Pain & Tendon Rehabilitation
Understanding tendon pain • Pain versus damage • Monitoring symptoms • The 24-hour response • When to progress, hold or modify loading • Recognising when further assessment/referral is needed

Module 5 — Tendon Rehabilitation & Exercise
Isometric, isotonic and heavy resistance loading • Straight and bent-knee calf work • Progressive loading • Energy-storage exercises • Pogo and hopping progressions • Returning to running/activity • Insertional tendon considerations

Practical Achilles Exercise Library
10 practical exercise demonstrations with clinical purpose, set-up, coaching points, starting doses, progression/modification guidance and explanations for clients.

Clinical Case Studies
Realistic tendon presentations requiring students to assess the information, select appropriate loading strategies, plan progression and apply clinical reasoning.

Student Resources & Evidence
Tendon toolkit • 2024 Achilles Clinical Practice Guideline • Achilles Tendinopathy Toolkit • Optimizing Recovery After Achilles Tendon Pain patient resource • Model answers and clinical reasoning guide.

Certification
Certificate awarded on successful completion.