Are Doppler studies a useful method of assessing neovascularization in human Achilles tendinopathy? A systematic review and suggestions for optimizing machine settings.

Achilles tendinopathy describes a painful condition. The symptoms include localized swelling and tenderness, and the condition is often associated with altered tendon structure and neovascularization. Doppler ultrasound has been used in Achilles neovascularization and despite the lack of standardization and machine settings, recent research has demonstrated a potential relationship between pathology and the presence of neovascularization. This paper is a systematic review of the published studies which have used Doppler ultrasound in the assessment of Achilles neovascularization, and a prospective study to suggest a degree of optimization for future studies.