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Added mass increases Achilles tendon stress in female runners.

PMID 37011454 (2023): injury, load — Injury risk (study note for endurance athletes).

Last updated/Feb 23, 2026, 11:13 PM

Study note • PMID 37011454

Added mass increases Achilles tendon stress in female runners.

Foot (Edinburgh, Scotland)2023 • DOI 10.1016/j.foot.2023.102028
Evidence D54/100
Action 3: Experiment carefully

Useful, but technique/population sensitive.

ELI5

In plain language

CONTEXT: Achilles tendon (AT) injuries are common in female runners and military personnel where increased AT loading may be a contributing factor. (controlled study; runners).

The abstract suggests a positive effect on Injury risk under the tested conditions. Treat this as a signal, not a guarantee; confirm methods and context in the full paper.

Takeaways

What the abstract suggests

  • Study question: CONTEXT: Achilles tendon (AT) injuries are common in female runners and military personnel where increased AT loading may be a contributing factor.
  • The abstract suggests a positive effect on Injury risk under the tested conditions.
  • Population: runners.
  • Protocol cues: abstract may omit dose/timing; use the full paper to replicate accurately.

Protocol

Protocol (as reported)

  • Intervention/exposure: injury, load (vs comparison group).
  • Dose/time/duration: abstract doesn’t include enough detail; use the full paper’s methods section.
  • Outcomes: Injury risk.
  • Replication note: abstracts often omit adherence and timing; confirm details before changing training or supplementation.

Fit

Who it helps, and who should skip it

Who it helps

  • Athletes similar to the study population (runners) working on injury risk.
  • Athletes who can measure Injury risk with a repeatable workout or time-trial effort.

Who should skip

  • If you have symptoms or conditions that make the intervention risky, get professional guidance.
  • If you’re near race day and can’t safely test, defer the experiment.

Methods

What the study actually did

  • Design: controlled study.
  • Population: runners.
  • Comparator: comparison group.
  • Outcomes measured: Injury risk.
  • Source: PubMed PMID 37011454 (2023) — Foot (Edinburgh, Scotland).

Results excerpt

What the abstract reports

There was a 4.3% and 8.8% increase in AT stress and strain during the 4.5 kg and 9.0 kg added load conditions, respectively, compared to baseline.

Note: excerpts are short; for full context, read the paper.

Limits

Limitations & bias

  • Abstract-only summaries can miss critical details (population, protocol, adherence, and context).
  • Single studies often don’t generalize to your event, history, and training load; treat results as a starting point.
  • If your context differs (elite vs recreational; cycling vs running), adjust expectations and be conservative.
  • This is performance information, not medical advice.

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Sources