ProSport PT Evidence Based Practice:
Achilles Tendinitis
Achilles tendinitis is a common condition that affects the tissue connecting your calf muscle to the heel of your foot. It can occur as one of two types based on the location of pain: insertional or non-insertional. Insertional involves discomfort within the tendon-heel transition, where as the non-insertional involves discomfort further away from the heel.
Causes
Achilles tendinitis may occur from several factors:
- Over training or sudden increase in training variables
- Limited calf muscle length
- Decreased ankle range of motion
- Abnormal foot mechanics
- Inappropriate footwear
Clinical Symptoms
You may experience:
- Frequent stiffness in the Achilles tendon upon waking up or at the start of an activity
- Achilles stiffness progresses to discomfort with ankle movement
- Continued swelling of the tendon
- Later stage will experience thickening of the tendon
Treatment
Patients with Achilles tendinitis can expect from their Physical Therapist:
- Joint mobilizations aimed to increase ranges of motion for the ankle joint and foot joints.
- Soft Tissue Mobilizations aimed to decrease tissue restrictions
- Stretches and exercises consisting of eccentric re-loading of the Achilles tendon, proper foot arch activation, active range of motion movements, static and dynamic gastroc-soleus stretching, sport specific activities
- Footwear Assessment
- Brace
- Zamst AT-1: Allows the Achilles tendon to glide in alignment and maintain
proper foot motion. The AT-1 will assist in pushing the foot down and reduce the tension on the Achilles tendon.
ProSport Physical Therapy, 1000 N. Bristol Street, Ste #25, Newport Beach, CA 92666. Phone 949-250-1112
References:
-Dutton M. Dutton’s Orthopaedic Examination Evaluation and Intervention, Third Edition. McGraw-Hill Medical; 2012.
-http://zamst.us/product/at-1.5.html
Article produced by: Kevin Aguinaldo, PT, DPT
