Achilles Tendinopathy
What is the Achilles tendon?
Your Achilles tendon is the biggest and strongest tendon in the body. It’ a tough fibrous band that attaches your calf muscle to your heel bone. The action this muscle performs in plantar flexion of your foot or helps you to rise onto your tip toes.
What is Achilles tendinopathy?
- Insertional Achilles tendinopathy is pain at the heel bone.
- Mid portion Achilles Tendinopathy is 2-6cm above the heel bone and sometimes you can see and feel a swollen area.
This can be a debilitating problem for any athlete or active person. Symptoms usually come on over a prolonged period of time, and often the pain is most severe when first getting out of bed in the morning.
Any sports which involve running or jumping can cause Achilles tendonitis, such as the weekend warrior runner or playing sports such as football, tennis and or volleyball, although is may also occur through simple fitness walking.
General Risk Factors
- Age: more common in men aged 30 – 50.
- Activity: Explosive movements like basket ball, tennis and ultimate frisbee, with underlying degenerative change it can be as simple as stepping off a curb awkwardly.
- Diabetes: If you have diabetes you are at an increased risk of developing Achilles tendinopathyj.
- Muscle weakness: Tight or weak calf muscles
- Weight: If you have a higher than average body weight you are more at risk
- Footwear: Work shoes, running shoes and house shoes may need replacing worn out footwear.
Stiffness in foot joints
Treatment
- Rest from aggravating sporting activities
- Ice and gentle stretching after activities
- Painkiller: paracetamol or anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen or diclofenac always check with your pharmacist if on other medications
- Eccentric exercise program – designed by our podiatrist
- Correct abnormal foot position with orthoses in your shoes
- Autologous blood injection
- Dry needling & strapping
ABOUT US
With a second degree in human movement studies, keeping you moving well is our priority. We provide general foot care services. We also offer more specialist services in bio mechanical assessment and orthortic prescription.
ADDRESS
Shop 9, 61 Burnett Street
Buderim, Queensland 4556
CALL US
(07) 5338 7387
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