Achilles Tendonitis Treatment Discuss By Your Burbank Chiropractor

Burbank Chiropractor, Doctor Simian, is experienced with treating atheletes with Achilles Tendonitis in the burbank and surrounding areas. If you have experienced pain throughout your foot to calf, you may be experiencing this condition

The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body which connects the calf bone to the heel bone. When placed under a lot of stress, the tendon can become inflamed and tighten. This is most commonly found in runners who change the intensity or duration of their runs, along with athletes whose sports consist of jumping. If the tendon is continuously placed under stress, it can potentially tear or rupture. This is not only associated with long distance runners, but can also affect sprinters and those who perform high intensity interval training (HIIT) which can consist of box jumps. All of these mentioned causes can eventually lead to achilles tendonitis.

Certain symptoms associated with Achilles Tendonitis can consist of tenderness, heat, a dull pain, or sharp pain that can all be felt on the back of the tendon, but close to the heel. It can occur sporadically or even linger throughout the day depending on the severity. There can also be a decrease in flexibility, painful ankle ranges of motion, and tenderness to palpation depending on the severity. As the tendon becomes inflamed, it can restrict movement and even cause painful movement, especially with extending your foot towards your head as this will stretch an already irritated tendon.

There are multiple causes of Achilles Tendonitis. Overtraining or improper warm ups can lead to extra stress placed on the Achilles, which in turn can cause tendonitis. Running uphill, sprints, or improper footwear can also play a part placing excess pressure in the calf muscle, which will translate down to the tendon causing tendonitis. Athletes who are flat footed or overpronate (the feet rotated too far inward) are also more susceptible to Achilles tendonitis. The tendons are the attachment points between muscle and bone. For example, if the calf muscle is chronically tight, it can over stretch the achilles tendon, which attaches to the heel bone, causing irritation, inflammation, and potentially causing it to turn into tendonitis. It doesn’t take much to injure this region of the body, so it is important to take your time and perform appropriate stretches and mobility work before beginning your training session.

Rehab: Therapies such as therapeutic ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation, ice, and myofascial release can all help decrease inflammation and swelling around the achilles tendon. It is important to gradually step back into exercise to not overstimulate the injured area and reinjure it. Stretching out the calf muscles can take tension off the achilles tendon after the acute stages of injury have passed. Toe raises and light jogging in place can be performed, to tolerance, once the achilles is starting to feel better and is a good way to reintroduce movement within the ankle. Strengthening the feet, calf muscles, and shin muscles can all help stabilize the area and hopefully prevent future injury. Easing back into activity with shorter and less strenuous runs can also help with the recovery process and make it an easier transition back to activity.

Proper warm ups before activity can also help prevent achilles tendonitis from occurring as this will help warm up and loosen the muscles that are about to be placed under stress. Mobility work around the ankle joint will help keep the joint moving and prevent it from “locking up” which in turn can potentially force other accessory muscles to be overworked and injured. It is important to seek treatment sooner rather than later when experiencing ankle injuries so this condition does not turn into a chronic problem. Following the advice of your healthcare practitioner can help establish a plan moving forwards in regards to treatment and rehab.