Achilles tendonitis is generally thought of as a sports injury since it affects nearly a quarter of all athletes at some point. Nonetheless, the condition can have a significant negative impact on anyone’s mobility and quality of life. At Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine, where our doctors take a holistic approach to healing, we offer a broad range of traditional and complementary therapies to relieve pain and restore function for those suffering from Achilles tendonitis.Â
What is Achilles Tendonitis?
The Achilles tendon, the largest tendon in the body, connects the heel bone to the calf and plays a pivotal role in walking, running, and jumping. While its resilience and flexibility allow for a wide range of activities, they also make it vulnerable to overuse and injury that can result in tendonitis.
Causes of Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles tendonitis results from undue stress on the band of muscle tissue that stretches up the calf from the heel. Specific activities and actions heighten the possibility of injury, including:
- Intense or repetitive exercise
- Sudden increase in activities that strain this particular tendon.
- Sport-specific actions, e.g. quick starts, sudden stops, or pivots common in basketball and tennis, sudden increases in mileage covered by long-distance runners, or frequent jumps and significant ankle flexion in dancing.
- Inadequate training or practice
- Improper, insufficiently supportive footwear
Risk Factors for Achilles Tendonitis
Certain factors increase your risk of developing Achilles tendonitis, including:
- Advancing age as tendons lose elasticity
- Gender since males are more often likely to develop this condition
- Particular sports and activities, e.g. basketball, volleyball, running, dancing, tennis, and other racket sports
- Being overweight or obese, which puts additional strain on the Achilles tendon
- Structural anomalies, such as overpronation or flat arches
- Autoimmune disorders, like diabetes, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis
- Some medications, especially certain antibiotics, corticosteroids, and aromatase inhibitors (used to lower breast cancer risk)
- Cold weather which makes tendons more rigid and prone to injury
- Vigorous activity on hilly, hard, or uneven surfaces
Symptoms of Achilles Tendonitis
The symptoms of Achilles tendonitis are hard to miss:
- Snapping or popping noise at the time of injury, indicating a severe strain, tear or rupture
- Localized pain that escalates with movement, becoming more severe and persistent
- Stiffness and tenderness, especially upon waking, either directly above the heel or at the tendon’s insertion point.
- Swelling and thickening of the region, evidence of inflammation
- Reduced range of motion when flexing the foot
Although for some patients, pain is severe immediately after the injury, in others it may at first only occur during or after strenuous activity but can become constant, interfering with the patient’s normal routine and disrupting sleep.
Complications: Understanding the Risk of Rupture
It is never wise to leave Achilles tendonitis untreated since there is a risk of tendon rupture which will require surgical intervention. That’s why it’s critical to get in touch with our physiatrists immediately if you suspect Achilles tendonitis.
Diagnosis of Achilles Tendonitis
At Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine, we pride ourselves on being accurate diagnosticians. We will take your injury seriously and listen carefully to all you say since we firmly believe that healing is a collaborative process between doctor and patient.
Our diagnostic process involves:
- Taking a complete medical history
- Performing a thorough physical exam
- Administering a gait analysis
- Evaluating your range of motion
- Administering imaging tests, such as an ultrasound or MRI scan
One of the reasons accurate diagnosis is so important is that it enables us to rule out other problems, like bursitis or a tendon rupture.
We Offer a Broad Range of Holistic Treatment Options
Our treatment regimen is not generic. We will create a therapeutic plan that is designed to address your particular needs and is guided by your own personal preferences. It will include some combination of the following:
Customized Physical Therapy
Your physical therapy will consist of exercises tailored to strengthen your calf muscles, enhance your tendon flexibility, and improve your overall leg function. Your plan will be personalized to take into account any pre-existing conditions or prior injuries.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
PRP involves injecting you with a platelet-enriched portion of your own blood to promote healing and expand range of motion.
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Therapy
PEMF is a non-invasive treatment designed to stimulate cellular repair and reduce inflammation.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a type of Chinese medicine that uses hairline needles placed at charted spots on the body. Successfully used for thousands of years, acupuncture offers pain relief, reduced inflammation, increased blood flow, released endorphins, and a sense of general well-being, all of which are helpful in healing Achilles tendonitis.Â
How To Lower Your Risk of Developing Achilles Tendonitis
No matter how careful we are, accidents and muscular stresses are sometimes unavoidable, but here are some suggestions to make it less likely that you will suffer the disabling pain of Achilles tendonitis:
- Increase your activity level gradually
- Avoid putting excessive stress on your tendons (e.g by running hills)
- Choose your footwear carefully and replace it when necessary
- Stretch and work to strengthen your calf muscles daily
- Alternate high-impact (e.g. jumping) and low-impact (e.g. swimming) activities
Contact Our Experienced Achilles Tendonitis Specialists Now
If you are suffering from Achilles tendonitis or think you might be, now is the time to contact Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine. Our physiatrists have an impressive track record of successfully treating this injury with a variety of holistic, nonsurgical treatments. Contact us as soon as you are injured to give yourself the best chance of healing rapidly and without complications.Â
At Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine, our goal is the same as yours: to have you heal as quickly as possible, return to an active and comfortable lifestyle, and avoid future injuries. Contact us today to be treated with kindness and concern as well as medical expertise.