Achilles Tendinopathy is a relatively common injury that occurs due to the overuse of soft tissues. It can cause pain, swelling, inflammation and stiffness of the Achilles Tendon (also known as Calcaneal Tendon) which is situated at the back of the heel. The Achilles Tendon is a strong connective tissue which connects the calf muscles (Gastrocnemius and Soleus) to the heel bone (Calcaneus).  The main function of the Achilles Tendon is in plantar flexion of the foot which refers to movement in which the toes point away from the leg. Common movements which utilise the Achilles Tendon include standing on tiptoes or pointing toes above.  The Achilles Tendon also provides elasticity and shock-absorbance in the foot. These functions are extremely important for day to day activities such as walking, jogging, running and the movements involved in any sports.

The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body and it can withstand a lot of strain placed on it from movements such as running, jogging and jumping. However, it can be more susceptible to injuries due to overuse in repetitive activities. The Achilles Tendon may be subjected to degeneration because of the repetitive stress the tendon is exposed to from activities involving repetitive movements. This becomes a bigger problem especially when the Achilles tendon is unable to take and/or adapt to the repetitive strain placed on it which can lead to further damage within the tendon fibres. As a result, the body will try to protect the tendon through an inflammatory response which causes pain, swelling or irritation indicating that the area needs to be rested and treated.

Causes

Anyone can have Achilles Tendinopathy. However, those who participate in repetitive, strenuous and continuous activities such as running, jumping or jobs that require the same movements are more likely to develop to Achilles Tendinopathy.

Common Causes of Achilles Tendinopathy:

• Over-training
• Sudden increase in the amount or intensity of the exercise
• Change in training surface
• Lack of training variation
• Poorly supportive footwear
• Tight calf muscles
• Bone spur- which is an extra bone that grows near the Achilles Tendon where it attaches to the heel bone (calcaneus) and it can rub against the tendon and cause pain
• Poor lower limb muscle control: e.g. poor hip and knee muscle control
• Stiff Ankle/Foot Joints

Treatment:

If you do feel pain in the heel which may indicate Achilles Tendinopathy, please rest your leg and book an appointment. Here at Myofitness we have the capability to treat Achilles Tendinopathy through a combination of hands-on treatment and rehab exercises that are specific to you and the specific stage of your Achilles Tendinopathy. Achilles Tendinopathy has different stages and we make sure that the treatment plan we design caters to the specific stage your condition is at.

Any chronic and overuse injuries can be very debilitating and no one should ever manage chronic pain alone. Here at Myofitness we always outline and explain exactly what the treatment plan is, what you need to do and what we need to do as managing chronic pain is a team effort.

Would be great to add a diagram!

Another diagram to illustrate this would be a good idea too!

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