Troublesome Achilles Pain

Achilles tendinopathy is one of the most painful and annoying tendinopathies to have to try to manage.  Common in recreational runners and professional athletes alike, it often takes a long time to settle and can severely affect enjoyment of activities.

What is it?

Achilles tendinopathy is often a thickening and painful area anywhere along the achilles tendon.  It limits the ability to both stretch the calf/achilles, and to perform running/jumping activities.  The thickening is the bodies response to the loads it has been subjected to.  The tendon cells become slightly disordered, and both fluid and pain fibres (nerves) infiltrate between the tendon cells, causing the swelling and pain. 

The characteristic swelling common with insertional achilles tendinopathy

What Causes it?

Tendinopathies, such as those in the achilles, are almost always caused by a loading event.  Generally, an excess of activity or movement leads to the changes in the tendon cells observed.  Loading events can include things like a number of running days in a row (if that is different to what you would normally complete), a touch football carnival where you play multiple games in the same day, or performing an activity that requires significantly more jumping/landing than what you are used to. 

How is it managed?

“If loading caused it, its loading that will help settle it”.  The key to managing achilles tendon pain is controlling aggravating activities, while improving the tendons capacity to tolerate load.  This is achieved through specific, suitable exercises and controlled progressions in activity return.  Not all the exercises you see on Instagram or google for achilles tendinopathy are suitable for each individual case.  The choice of rehab exercises is dependant on a number of factors, including which portion of the achilles is affected, what activity you perform normally, and the levels of pain that you are in.  It is best determined by a qualified physio, who can guide you along the rehab continuum.

If you are troubled by achilles pain or restriction, book in online today to have it expertly assessed and managed, so you can return to what you love.