Also known as Achilles Tendonitis or Achilles Tendinosis.
Achilles tendinopathy is an injury affecting the long tendon that runs down the back of your leg from your calf to your heel. It can become stiff, painful and thickened affecting how you move.
There are many factors that can cause Achilles tendinopathy but essentially, it’s the inability of the tendon to adapt to the strain being placed upon it which leads to microdamage with the tendon fibres. The tendon then attempts to heal in response to the strain.
The symptoms of Achillies tendinopathy vary between individuals and severity but can include:
Our therapists can help diagnose Achilles Tendinopathy. We also offer Point of Care Ultrasound imaging to look at the tendon in greater detail. Once confirmed, we can offer a range of treatment options to help you recover and get back to doing the important things in life and the activities you love.
We use the latest in treatment techniques such as Shockwave Therapy, massage and acupuncture. We give practical help and advice so you know how to cope and manage things from the start. We then progress your treatment, helping reduce pain further and improving physical strength and guiding you through the rehabilitation process and beyond to make sure you achieve the outcome you deserve.
Sometimes the diagnosis is not straight forwards and it could be something else:
POLICE NOT PRICE – We’ve lost the ‘Rest’ and added OL!
P– Protect the area – If the pain is severe you may need to avoid putting weight on that leg
OL– Optimal Loading – active rest is generally better than total rest so do what you can that doesn’t aggravate your symptoms. If everything hurts, it’s probably best to get things looked at sooner rather than later.
I – Ice the area for pain relief
C – Compression – Generally not of much help in this condition
E – Elevation – Take the load off your feet can help the symptoms calm down.
If the symptoms persist for more than a week and activities such as normal walking or going up and down stairs is especially painful or limited it’s probably time to see some professional advice from your Physiotherapist or GP.
