Achilles Tendinopathy

• Contributing Factors/MOI:

  • when load exceeds capacity e.g. going from park run to running a marathon
  • overtraining
  • footwear
• Signs & Symptoms:

  • Mid-tendon tendinopathy
  • Local pain ~ 5 - 8 cm above insertion (mid-portiontensile)
  • Insertional tendinopathy (compression)
  • +/- bursa involvement
  • located near calcaneal area
  • Both:
  • Swelling / Thickening
  • Tenderness on palpation / Crepitus
  • Pain worse on mobilising following periods of rest/eases with exercise
• Treatment:

  • No recipes
  • Reactive/ Pain - Isometric for 45 s x often per day
  • Relative rest/ modification in training
  • Progression of load – Heavy, slow, isotonic, concentric, eccentric – build strength, vary range, direction
  • Stretch Shortening Cycle – work on spring like qualities of Lower limb tendons – explosive, plyometric, speed
  • Appropriate recovery
  • Kinetic chain - look at knee and hip as well