You are currently viewing Achilles Tendinopathy? What To Do And How To Treat

Achilles Tendinopathy? What To Do And How To Treat

Overview

Achilles tendinopathy is a common overuse injury that affects runners, and athletes. The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle (main components: gastrocnemius and soleus muscles) to the back of the heel bone. Now, by understanding where it connects, we know that it helps us run, walk and jump by moving our toes away from the body. It is a condition that can cause pain in the mid-portion of the achilles tendon or near the attachment to heel (insertional). Injury usually occurs as a result of repetitive stress on the tendon causing micro-trauma, combined with a failed healing response.

achilles tendinopathy

Symptoms of Achilles Tendinopathy

  • Pain in the back of the leg above the heel associated with physical activity like running or jumping
  • Thickening of the Achilles tendon
  • Tenderness on palpation
  • Morning stiffness may occur and can ease with gentle movement

Risk Factors

  • Tightness or weakness in calf muscle strength
  • Activity or sports involving repetitive or high impact loading on the tendon e.g. squash, running, sprinting
  • Poor biomechanics causing uneven loading on the tendon

Physiotherapy Treatment for Achilles Tendinopathy

Firstly we look to control the pain.

Initial phase of physiotherapy treatment is to control the pain and reduce further damage to the tendon. This can be done in several ways, 1. By modifying your activity 2. Reducing the load on the achilles tendon 3. Ice can be applied during an acute flare up for analgesic effects or 4. consult with your GP for pain medication.

Once the pain is controlled it’s time to strengthen the muscles and tendon

Rehabilitation of the Achilles tendinopathy involves a heavy eccentric loading program. Consult with your health professional first before you start

Heavy eccentric loading has shown to be effective in treating tendinopathy, particularly mid-portion Achilles tendon injury. The movement of eccentric loading is to apply weight on the tendon when it is lengthening as shown in the Video and also picture below.

Phases of Eccentric Calf Raises. 1. On both legs 2. Move up to the top of the movement 3.Shift your weight to your affected leg 4. Come down on the affected leg. Then REPEAT

Keep in mind you may experience mild pain while doing the exercise. To increase the weight and resistance on the Achilles tendon patients would put on a heavy back pack.

Furthermore progression of exercises would then involve increasing the load of the tendon within a short window of time, e.g landing drills & jumping movements.

For more information or to get your injury treated

Triumph Physio operates in Mt Wellington and Newmarket, Auckland. We have qualified Physiotherapist with a keen interest in sports physio registered under ACC that can help For more info call us on 09 526 1448 or book online by clicking on the button below

Online Booking

References:

Sussmilch-Leitch et al. (2012).  Physical therapies for Achilles tendinopathy: systematic review and meta-analysis

Vlist et al. (2018). Clinical risk factors for Achilles tendinopathy: a systematic review

Tags: , , ,