ACHILLES TENDONITIS & ACHILLES TENDINOPATHY
Achilles Tendonitis & Achilles Tendinopathy refers to pain around the tendon at the back of the ankle. Many things can cause ankle pain, tendonitis is an acute occurrence, whereas Tendinopathy is more of a chronic problem occurring gradually over weeks or months. Pain and stiffness at the start of exercise and upon waking in the morning are common with Achilles tendon pain. Normally starting out as heel pain, the tendon can be very tender to touch, and may elicit sharp pain on squeezing. Essentially, overuse develops adhesions between the tendon and its sheath. This causes heel pain, calf pain, stiffness and impairs the performance of the tendon and ankle joint. Common causes are sudden increase in activity i.e: your 1st class at the gym, going for a run on a cold day, wearing high heels then flip flops for example. Essentially, too much too soon activity that your achilles tendon could endure. Recent studies have shown that with Tendinopathy, the tendon is not necessarily inflamed but more a breakdown of fibres and blood vessels as a result of ongoing repetitive strain. Healing can take weeks or months depending on the severity of the injury. It is important to treat the condition while it is still Tendonitis and not Tendinopathy as this will greatly speed up the recovery period. Osteopathy has shown great resulting in speeding up the healing time. The osteopath will use tried and tested methods and techniques that work to improve the function of the ankle, whilst addressing causative factors that probably led to the condition in the beginning. For the athlete, this is normally a very worthwhile treatment as they prevent further lasting damage that may inhibit their potential.
WHAT PRACTITIONER AT THE AARK CLINIC SHOULD I SEE?
Achilles Tendonitis & Achilles Tendinopathy is a common problem seen by Osteopaths. Find out more about Osteopathy or contact us for more information.
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AUTHOR: LLOYD TILNEY BOst PRINCIPLE OSTEOPATH AT THE AARK CLINIC
Feet are like the foundation of a building, subtle changes to the structure and mechanisms of the foot can have local and far reaching effects throughout the body. Low back pain, hip pain, knee pain can all be symptoms of ‘unsound’ foot mechanics. Bunions, high heels, flip flops, arthritis, plantar fasciitis, in growing toenails, heel pain, high heels, gout even verruca’s and blisters all potentially upset the normal mechanisms in the foot and can lead to pain elsewhere in the body.
OSTEOPATHY FOR PLANTAR FASCIITIS
A great example this time of year is the transition from high heels to flip flops. High heels throw off your alignment. They change the center of gravity, causing extra stress and strain on the lower back. Winter months of wearing high heels chronically shorten the sole of the foot (plantar fascia), calf muscles and Achilles tendons at the back of the ankle, not to mention the changes that occur in the low back, hips and knees to adjust our body’s centre of gravity. When summer approaches and we transition to flip flops with little or no arch support, the plantar fascia, Achilles tendons and calf muscles undergo a significant stretch, often to the point of pain. Having no support, flip flops alters the way you walk, causing you to grip with your toes. This gripping causes repetitive strain of the plantar aspect of your feet. This often leads to damage to joints, tendons etc in the ankle, knee, hip and back, which if left untreated can lead to a ‘chronic’ dysfunction. Tip: When buying flip flops, try to find ones with an arch support, this will help to maintain correct alignment when walking.
If you are experiencing any of the above foot problems, or, are experiencing pain in the foot, ankle, knees, hips or back, please feel free to contact us at The Aark to discuss how we may help. JUNE 15, 2014
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