Table 2

The outcome measures regarded as both truthful and feasible by the participants

Outcome measurement instrumentTruthful+feasibleNOT
truthful
+feasible
NOT
feasible +truthful
NOT feasible and not truthful
Improvement
A 6-point Likert scale22 (71%)9 (29%)
Results of treatment
Global Ratings of Change Scale23 (74%)8 (26%)
Clinical Global Impression Scale25 (81%)6 (19%)
Patient Global Impression of Change Scale23 (74%)8 (26%)
Perception of treatment effectiveness24 (77%)7 (23%)
Perceived improvement22 (71%)9 (29%)
Return to sport/competition
Return to sports22 (71%)9 (29%)
Time to return to preinjury levels24 (77%)7 (23%)
Pain during activity/loading
A 100 mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)22 (71%)9 (29%)
A VAS scale from 0 to 10 (0 no pain, 10 severe pain)22 (71%)9 (29%)
Pain after activity
Evaluating pain after activity using a VAS (0–10)23 (74%)8 (26%)
Strength and flexibility testing
Single-leg heel rise test27 (87%)4 (13%)
Single Hop test26 (84%)5 (16%)
‘Gastrocnemius and soleus flexibility’24 (77%)7 (23%)
Disability
VISA-A questionnaire26 (84%)5 (16%)
Foot Function Index22 (71%)9 (29%)
Morning pain
Pain first thing in the morning (VAS 0–100) (not further specified)23 (74%)8 (26%)
Pain at rest
Morning stiffness. Asking morning stiffness severity, measured on a 100 mm VAS23 (74%)8 (26%)
Location of pain Identifying the site of maximum pain24 (77%)7 (23%)
Ankle range of motion
Measuring full range of motion of the ankle with a standard goniometer23 (74%)8 (26%)
Adherence
Use of co-interventions25 (81%)6 (19%)
‘'Adherence’'. A weekly online questionnaires to evaluate adherence to exercise treatment.23 (74%)8 (26%)
  • Values are expressed as numbers (%).

  • VISA-A, Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles.