Achilles Tendinitis Treatment Heathpool
We encounter cases of Achilles Tendon Injuries at Heel Pain Clinics of Adelaide on a daily basis, typically characterized by inflammation or degeneration due to the excessive stretching and overuse of the Achilles tendon. We diligently provide care to patients in Heathpool, suffering from what is often referred to as Achilles Tendonitis.
What Are The Symptoms Of Achilles Tendinitis?
From our consultations with patients suffering from Achilles injuries, common experiences include:
- Feeling stiffness and pain in the affected region upon waking in the morning
- The discomfort subsides somewhat after mobilising and warming up, often facilitated by a warm shower
- Reoccurs after several hours of activity especially running, tennis, football and dancing
What Are The Causes Of Achilles Tendon Injuries?
The Achilles Tendon is usually subjected to three common injuries:
- Achilles Tendinitis (Achilles Tendon inflammation)
- Achilles Tendinosis/Tendonopathy (Achilles Tendon degeneration)
- Retrocalneal Bursitis
At Heel Pain Clinics of Adelaide, Achilles Tendinitis presents most commonly and is characterized by acute inflammation.
The tendon becomes swollen and thickened. It is a chronic problem which develops over a long period and can be very difficult to settle down the longer it is left unattended. Symptoms usually include stiffness behind the heel or ankle when rising in the morning. With Achilles tendinitis, it usually warms up with exercise only to become stiff and painful afterwards. When seen under the microscope, inflammatory conditions have specific cells that the body brings to that area of the body to help control the inflammation and heal the injured tendon. At this stage, recover time is short. If left for over six months, it may develop into Achilles Tendinosis (see below) which may take 6-12 to recover.
We frequently see patients at Heel Pain Clinics of Adelaide who have been dealing with an Achilles Tendon injury for over half a year. This long-standing issue results in a total alteration in the tendon’s composition, thus posing a greater challenge to resolve than Achilles Tendinitis.
Achilles Tendonopathy, alternatively known as Achilles Tendinosis, is a condition that evolves from chronic Achilles Tendinitis. Unlike its predecessor, this condition is not marked by inflammation. Patients are likely to present with scarring, thickening, and/or microtear degeneration of the tendon. The surrounding tissue generally doesn’t show signs of redness or warmth, although the affected area can be tender to the touch.
Retrocalcaneal Bursitis is a condition we occasionally diagnose at Heel Pain Clinics of Adelaide. This refers to an inflammatory response in the fluid-filled sac located between the Achilles tendon and the heel bone. It’s common to observe a prominent bony bump on the top outer border of the heel’s back, recognized as a Haglund’s deformity.
Treatment For Achilles Tendinitis
We offer a range of treatment options for your Achilles tendon injury or pain relief. After a detailed history and assessment of your issue, we formulate an individualised treatment plan, tailored to your needs.
Treatment options include:
- Achilles stretching, strengthening and icing
- Radial Shockwave Therapy
- Address biomechanics (shoes/ orthotics)
- Modify training
At Heel Pain Clinics of Adelaide, we have our Don’t Let Achilles Be Your Heel System which treats the underlying causes which lead to stress of the Achilles Tendon.
The Don’t Let Achilles Be Your Heel System comprises of three components:
- Stretching and Strengthening Regime
- Extracorporal Shockwave Therapy
- Addressing your Biomechanics Walking/Running Pattern
If you have Achilles Tendinitis and there is no rupture this has been clinically proven to have a 98% success rate*.
*These journal articles can be provided upon request after your Initial Gap Free Assessment
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