Physiotherapy Treatment in Curezone Physiotherapy clinic, Mississauga aims in providing multidisciplinary approach and evidence-based physiotherapy treatment and Rehabilitation. Our physiotherapist aims to provide appropriate treatment and approach towards yours issues. Our Mississauga location brings the team of most experienced Orthopedic and sports physiotherapist, Chiropractor, Osteopath and RMT’s to provide you the best experience towards your recovery and treatments and to improve your quality of life.
The Achilles tendon is the largest and the strongest tendon in the body. It connects your calf muscles to your heel bone and is used when you walk, run, climb stairs and jump. Although the Achilles tendon can withstand great stresses from running and jumping, it is also prone to tendinitis, a condition associated with overuse and degeneration. The Term ‘TENDONITIS’ means inflammation of the tendon.
Types
- Noninsertional Achilles tendinitis. Fibers in the middle of your tendon break down, swell, and get thick.
- Insertional Achilles tendinitis. This affects the lower part of your heel, where your tendon inserts, or goes into, your heel bone. It can cause bone spurs.
Cause
It’s common for this tendon to get injured. It can be mild or moderate and feel like a burning pain or stiffness in that part of your leg. Achilles tendinitis is typically results from repetitive stress to the tendon.
Sudden increase in the amount or intensity of exercise activity—such as increasing the distance you run every day by a few miles without giving your body a break.
- Tight calf muscles—Having tight calf muscles and suddenly starting an aggressive exercise program can put extra stress on the Achilles tendon
- Bone spur—Extra bone growth where the Achilles tendon attaches to the heel bone can rub against the tendon and cause pain.
- Men over 30 are especially prone to Achilles tendon injuries.
- You can also injure your Achilles tendon if you stress it over and over with high-impact activities. These are known as repetitive stress injuries.
- You add time to your exercise routine or do more intense activity.
- You start a new type of exercise.
- You wear shoes that don’t fit well or aren’t right for the kind of physical activityyou do.
- You work out on uneven surfaces.
Risk factors
There are some known risk factors related to the Achilles tendonitis. Few of these risk factors include:
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Rapid changed to load
- Type II Diabetes
- Prolonged steroid use
Common symptoms of Achilles tendinitis treated in Physiotherapy Clinic
Morning pain is a hallmark symptom because the Achilles tendon must tolerate a full range of movement including stretch immediately after getting up in the morning.
- Pain and stiffness along the Achilles tendon in the morning
- Pain along the tendon or back of the heel that worsens with activity.
- Severe pain the day after exercising.
- Thickening of the tendon
- Bone spur (insertional tendinitis)
- Swelling that is present all the time and gets worse throughout the day with activity.
If you have experienced a sudden “pop” in the back of your calf or heel, you may have ruptured (torn) your Achilles tendon. See your doctor immediately if you think you may have torn your tendon.
Diagnostic Imaging
Your doctor may order imaging tests to make sure your symptoms are caused by Achilles’ tendinitis.
X-rays
X-ray tests provide clear images of bones. X-rays can show whether the lower part of the Achilles tendon has calcified or become hardened.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
An MRI scan can show how severe the damage is in the tendon.
Physiotherapy in Curezone Physiotherapy Clinic, Mississauga
Physiotherapy is very helpful in treating Achilles’ tendinitis. It has proven to work better for non insertional tendinitis than for insertional tendinitis. Our physiotherapist will go through a proper objective examination to implement a treatment plan and exercises based on your condition. Physiotherapy in Achilles tendonitis is based on the severity of the tendon and Laser therapy, Ultrasound therapy, Shockwave therapy are few of the treatments done to reduce pain, swelling and inflammation of the tendon.
Manual therapy is the most important part of Physiotherapy where the physiotherapist works Hands on, with various different techniques such a Garston or Hawk techniques for scar tissue breakdown.
Calf stretches
Lean forward against a wall with one knee straight and the heel on the ground.
Bilateral heel drop
Stand at the edge of a stair, with just the front half of your foot on the stair. This position will allow your heel to move up and down without hitting the stair. Care must be taken to ensure that you are balanced correctly to prevent falling and injury. Be sure to hold onto a railing to help you balance.
Supportive shoes and orthotics. Pain from insertional Achilles’ tendinitis is often helped by certain shoes, as well as orthotic devices. Heel Lift can also take some strain off the tendon. Like a heel lift, a silicone Achilles sleeve can reduce irritation from the back of a shoe.
Call Curezone physiotherapy, Mississauga today to get assessed and treated by our Physiotherapist for your Achilles tendonitis assessment!!!
