What Is Achilles Tendonopathy?

Achilles tendinopathy is a condition that causes a great deal of pain, swelling and stiffness of the Achilles tendon that joins your heel bone to your calf muscles. Unfortunately, symptoms surrounding this condition usually lasts several weeks and occur most often after exercise or first thing in the morning. Achilles tendinopathy can be diagnosed after a lengthy history of symptoms; ultrasound scans will assist in diagnosis.

Your Achilles tendon is a vital part of your leg, they are responsible for the storage of return of elastic energy whilst you are on the move. Furthermore, they also transfer force from your muscle to bone. Problems frequently occur when your tendons are overworked, this can be either short or long term adaptation. The most common risk factor that can assist in developing this condition is a change to your overall workout intensity as well as terrain, age, change in footwear, gaining weight and the range of movement in the ankle joint.

How common is Achilles tendinopathy?

Achilles tendinopathy affects more than 150,000 people throughout the United Kingdom every year. It is becoming more persistent, which is thought to be due to increased people engaging in sport and participating in more strenuous training. It can be a particular problem for long-distance runners, but also it is very prevalent in dancers and tennis players.

How can Achilles tendinopathy be treated?

Items such as ice and anti-inflammatory medication can help with extreme cases; however, this should only be used for a short period of time so as not to interfere with the recovery process. In addition, it may be beneficial to reduce or adapt your exercise routine as you do not want to worsen your condition by overdoing it.

Research has shown that loss of strength can lead to a recurrence of issues; this is why exercise rehabilitation is critical. The program you partake in should be tailored for your particular needs as factors such as age and activity levels will affect your level of strength.

Podiatrists should be your first port of call when you begin to experience pain or suspect Achilles tendinopathy. Podiatrists are experts in all manner of lower limb conditions, therefore providing the best care for you. They will start by taking your entire history and examination; you may also participate in gait analysis to discover whether or not mechanical factors have any influence. Sadly, whichever road you decide to take, it can take weeks and possibly months to reach full recovery, although seeking help early on can eliminate longer-term problems.

If you feel like you are experiencing some pain when exercising or have noticed any of the symptoms that come with achilles tendinopathy, contact us today and we will help get you on your way to recovery.