*2.2. Participants*

A total sample of 143 individuals from 18 to 55 years was involved in the study. The sample was divided in two groups: A group composed of the chronic non-insertional AT (*n* = 71) and B group comprised of healthy subjects (*n* = 72). For the AT group, subjects were included if they showed the following features: pain in the mid-portion of the Achilles tendon measuring at least 3 out of 10 points in the pain visual analogue scale (VAS), a decrease in the function and tenderness in the body of the tendon for at least 3 months, and undergoing no physical therapy, analgesic or corticosteroid interventions during the study. Exclusion criteria were as follows: subjects with any systemic disease or infection [26], fracture [27] surgeries, plantar orthoses and lower limb disturbances within the last year [28].
