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Achilles Tendinitis

by Zamst

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.

22605833_sCauses

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

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