Achilles Tendon
Achilles Tendonitis is an inflammation of the common tendon of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of the posterior compartment of the leg.
Understanding the Condition
Patients that have equinis deformity and/or run up-hill are candidates for this disorder. As the tibia moves over the foot, the ankle joint needs to be able to dorsiflex at least 10 degrees. If this is not possible, due to tightness of the aforementioned musculature, the tissues of the tendon can be damaged. In addition it is thought that over-pronation may reduce the blood supply to the area by "wringing out" the arterial blood supply to the tendon. This is due to the twisting movement of the tendon associated with over-pronation of the foot.
Treatments and Advice
Tendons can be difficult to treat, however at the Biomechanix Foot and Knee Clinic we can offer several treatments to help ease your pain and increase your mobility.
Orthotics can be very useful if there are biomechanical issues, which may have contributed to the causes of your tendon problems. If there are no issues with your biomechanics after our initial assessment we may need to consider specific hands on physiotherapy and manipulation techniques. Dependant on the severity of your problem, there are several injection based techniques, which can be extremely effective. You can expect your clinician to fully assess your condition add give you options for the safest, fastest and most convenient treatment for your condition.
Further information can also be found at the website of our partners AchillesTendon.com.
