Achilles Tendinopathy: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options at Restore Podiatry
What is Achilles tendonitis?
Achilles tendonitis is the inflammation of the Achilles tendon at the back of the feet. It is the large tendon which connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. Especially seen in athletes, this condition is developed through repetitive and straining movements.
When Achilles tendonitis is left untreated, it might further develop into a chronic condition called Achilles tendinosis. In this condition, the tendon degenerates and gets weakened.
Symptoms of Achilles Tendinopathy
Patients have typically complained about the pain which starts with mild discomfort near the heel after any physical activity. The pain worsens with time. The tendon might start to feel tight, especially during the morning or after a long rest.
Swelling may be one of the other symptoms, along with the thickening of the tendon. This pain might intensify with stretching, walking, or climbing stairs.
Causes of Achilles Tendinopathy
Overuse
Activities such as running, jumping or doing high-intensity workouts can cause stress on the Achilles tendon.
Sudden Activity
A sudden, quick movement can cause microtears and inflammation in the tendon.
Genetics
Your foot structure can be one of the reasons behind this condition. Flat feet or high arches can both end up adding stress to the Achilles tendon.
Choice of Footwear
Lack of heel support and cushioning can increase the tension within the tendon.
Age
With increasing age, like any other tendon the Achilles tendon also loses its elasticity making them prone to injury.
Treatment Options at Restore Podiatry
Class 4 Laser Therapy
Restore podiatry is an exclusive provider of this advanced laser therapy for Achilles Tendinopathy. This non-invasive treatment for Achilles Tendinopathy targets the affected tendon and promotes help healing with cellular repair of the damaged tendon.
Class 4 laser therapy provides fast pain relief and speeds up recovery. It does not need any drug or surgery.
Read more about Class 4 Laser Therapy.
High Power Laser Therapy
The high energy delivered in High Power Laser Therapy (HPLT) allows deep tissue penetration, enhancing the effectiveness of the treatment. This is more apt for chronic cases of Achilles Tendinopathy or severe pain.
HPLT aids cellular regeneration, reducing inflammation and accelerating the recovery process with improved blood flow.
Read more about High Power Laser Therapy.
High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT)
High-intensity Laser therapy delivers laser energy designed to target the Achilles tendon with more intense energy output.
This non-invasive laser treatment for Achilles Tendinopathy is suitable for cases where the other standard treatments did not show promising results.
Read more about High-Intensity Laser Therapy.
Radial Shockwave Therapy
Radial Shockwave Therapy uses sound waves to deliver energy to the injured tendon and the back of the feet. This creates a microtrauma in the tendon and is effective in breaking the scar tissue.
Radial shockwave therapy is non-invasive. It does not require any anesthesia and is particularly effective for chronic Tendinopathy.
Read more about Radial Shockwave Therapy.
Focused Shockwave Therapy
Focused Shockwave therapy is exclusive to Restore podiatry. Focused shockwave therapy provides more concentrated energy than radical shockwaves that directly affect the damaged tendon.
In chronic or resistant cases of Achilles Tendinopathy, this non-invasive treatment can turn out to be the best option.
Read more about Focused Shockwave Therapy.
Biologic Regenerative Injection
Biologic regenerative injections involve using the body’s own healing agents. Growth factors or stem cells can be a few of them. These injections help reduce inflammation in the affected tendon and help with cellular regeneration.
This is a non-surgical, minimally invasive alternative to surgery with faster recovery and healthier tissue formation.
Read more about Biologic Regenerative Injection.
Power Heel Program™
Restore Podiatry is the exclusive provider of the Power Heel Program™. In this unique approach, we combine up to four different therapy methods to address tendon damage.
This program is designed to help your body’s natural healing to improve the damage, repair the scar tissues, and improve the delivery of nutrients to the Achilles tendon.
Read more about the Power Heel Program™.
At Restore Podiatry & Laser Center, we are proud to offer our newest, latest laser treatment and Clear Nail Program™ & Clear Wart Program™ which are powerful inclusive approach to your treatment for toenail fungus and warts. We take time to understand our patients and understand their needs.
