Achilles Tendinopathy?
Hi guys! In my first blog post I would like to share with you all an injury that I’ve been dealing with over the last 6 weeks. Which all started during going back to soccer training after not playing for month over the Christmas/New years break. About 45 minutes into the session, I could feel my calf tightening up and the back of my heel (Achilles tendon) start to ache…
So, what is Achilles Tendinopathy?
Achilles tendinopathy is a clinical syndrome that affects one of the largest tendons in the body, the Achilles tendon. This injury is often indicated by pain, stiffness, impaired performance and swelling in and around the Achilles tendon.
What are the different types?
1. Achilles Tendonitis: which refers to an acute inflammation of the tendon. It typically occurs due to an acute bout of overuse or repetitive strain on the tendon, from activities such as running, jumping, or sudden increases in physical activity after a while of inactivity (like in my case!).
2. Achilles Tendinosis: Unlike tendonitis, you maybe have seen the word tendinosis on your Ultrasound/MRI report, this usually means there is degeneration (break down) of the Achilles tendon rather than inflammation. It can result from chronic overuse, inadequate healing of a previous injury, or even with aging. This type will tend to produce more local pain and stiffness, particularly during and after activity.
And, what causes this to happen?
Some common causes of this injury include:
- Increased training volumes/intensity
- Overuse/repetitive strain
- Poor lower limb flexibility or joint range of motion
- Improper warm-up
- Changes to footwear or training surface
- Sudden Increases in activity
- Tight calf muscles
- High arches or Flat feet
- Poor fitting shoes
- Previous injury to the Achilles tendon or calf muscle
So, how do we treat this injury?
Treating Achilles tendinopathy typically involves a combination of approaches aimed at reducing pain, promoting healing, and addressing contributing factors. These include:
- Rest and activity modification (de-loading the tendon)
- Soft tissue work e.g. Massage, dry needling
- Specific rehabilitation exercise programs to assist in gradually loading the tendon e.g. calf raises
and eccentric heel drops - Mobilisations and chiropractic adjustments to ensure proper function of the nearby contributing joints
- Shockwave Therapy
- Sports taping
But how long will it take to get better?
Well, each person is different and many individual factors may play a role in the healing process of this injury. Such as, age, severity, chronicity, stress and activity levels, and possible underlying health conditions.
Roughly, this injury can take up to 8-12 weeks to heal, with more chronic cases taking anywhere from 3-6 months. However, your long-term recovery be affected if their is an associated tear/strain within the Achilles tendon.
So whether you’re returning to running after a break (like me) or grappling with persistent Achilles pain, book in with one of our chiropractors for a thorough assessment and tailored treatment plan, to begin your road to recovery from this frustrating injury today!
Click here or call 0435 819 286 to make an appointment.
If you’d like to know more about Returning to Running, check out our blog.
