Ankle
- Common Conditions
- Ankle
- Achilles Tendonitis
What Is Achilles Tendonitis?
Achilles Tendonitis is an injury causing inflammation and pain in the thick tendon that connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. The Achilles tendon helps with the movement of pointing your toes. There are many possible mechanisms of injury, the most common being repetitive loading of the tendon. Running on an uneven surface, poor foot posture due to ‘flat feet’ or incorrect footwear, direct trauma to the tendon, lack of flexibility, muscle weakness and imbalance can all cause or contribute to Achilles tendonitis.
What Are the Symptoms?
Most commonly pain will be present in the back of the heel, possible swelling where the tendon is inflamed and increased pain when standing on your tiptoes. Increased pain after long periods of rest such as first standing in a morning or pain after over-use following activities which include weight bearing.
What May My Rehabilitation Consist Of?
- Sports Massage Therapy – Using a range of techniques to decrease swelling, increase blood flow, reduce muscle spasm and promote healing.
- Mobilisations – A manual technique used by your therapist to move the joint and soft tissues gently to restore normal range, open joint spaces and relieve pain.
- Graston Technique – Using stainless steel tools to break down scar tissue, increase blood flow, reduce pain and manipulate the fascia to aid a healthy environment for the injured tissue to heal.
- Exercise Rehab Programmes – An aftercare plan will be tailored specifically to you and your injury to help stretch, strengthen muscles and develop co-ordination and balance to aid recovery.
- Electrotherapy – Using high-frequency electrical currents to reduce pain and promote healing in deep tissues.
- Deep transverse frictions – This is an aggressive massage technique applied across the tissue fibres, it is initially painful but will eventually cause a lasting numbing effect.
- Taping/Strapping – This may be used to restrict normal movement to allow the injury to heal without further damage. Kinesiology tape may be used to help support the joint without restricting movement, increase blood flow and restore proprioception awareness.
Common Conditions
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