What is Achilles Tendinopathy? And what does it mean for me?

Lately at the practice we’ve been treating a lot of patients suffering from Achilles Tendinopathy. Now many patients don’t actually know what that is. And that’s why today I want to shed some light on the topic, so that you know what it is and what the next steps are if you are suffering from this awful condition Achilles Tendinopathy is actually super common among our patients. Pains in the Achilles tendon are usually due to a small micro-tears in the tendon, generally developed over time and from over use. If left untreated, it can become very inflamed and swollen and it can also become chronic (long-term), meaning that it requires more intensive treatment, and that also increases the risk of sustaining an Achilles tendon rupture (tear). Now, I want to talk to you about this today so that you don’t get to that point. The key to this is to get the Achilles treated as soon as the problem arises so we can help you manage the pain, ensuring that you have no long term effects, and you can get back to the activities you love!

So, what causes Achilles Tendinopathy?

Great question! There is a range of things that can cause Achilles Tendinopathy, they can include wearing high heels as they shorten and tighten the calf muscle and put strain on your Achilles tendon, a sudden increase in training and or walking with a poor stretching routine can also provoke it, as well as poor footwear choices that either rub up against the tendon or simply don’t offer the support necessary. Bear in mind that these are just a few examples. The pain that this injury can cause can be felt in the Achilles tendon, heel and or in the lower calf. A good way to test if you have an Achilles problem is by rising up onto your toes, now try doing that standing on one leg… ouch? I would really urge you to give the clinic a call if you find that painful!!

What do I do if I have Achilles Tendinopathy?

Getting the right treatment as soon as the problem arises! Leave it too long and the problem can become more difficult to resolve. Ensuring you see out the full rehabilitation program of this issue is extremely important to achieve an optimum outcome and prevent reoccurrence.

What treatment is likely to occur?

Treatment generally includes loosening of the appropriate muscles and joint structures that may be imparting or altering normal movement of both the calf muscles and ankle joint.

We’ll also provide a strengthening program to prevent further re-injury, and depending on your individual case, you may receive advice on correct footwear and possibly a prescription for orthotics.

The take away…

If you think you may have Achilles Tendinopathy. We can then assess the level of seriousness and then get you back onto the road to recovery!

Call us on (03) 9798 4081 for further details.

That’s all from us today at a2z Health Group