Achilles Tendon Injuries

Achilles tendon pain is a common problem that affects people of all ages and activity levels. It is often linked to a condition called Achilles tendinopathy. The Achilles tendon is the thick band of tissue that connect your calf muscles to your heel bone. It plays an essential role in walking, running, and jumping by helping to spring you forward with each step.

Achilles tendinopathy often occurs when the tendon is overloaded, often from sudden increase in activity, repetitive strain, or biomechanical issues such as poor ankle mobility or calf weakness. This can cause the fibres of the Achilles tendon to become irritated, resulting in pain, stiffness, and sometimes swelling around the back of the heel.

Symptoms are usually worse first thing in the morning or after periods of rest, and during or after exercise.

At Dalton Physiotherapy, we carefully assess the underlying cause of your Achilles pain and help you not only settle the pain but also rebuild strength and resilience in your tendon so it doesn’t keep coming back. Your treatment plan will be tailored to you needs and activity levels and may include:

• Activity modification so you can stay moving without making the symptoms worse
• Manual therapy (i.e. soft tissue release, trigger point release, dry needling) to improve mobility and reduce tension in the calf and ankle
• Exercise therapy to strengthening your Achilles tendon and calf muscles
• Gradual return to activity or sport once your symptoms and function improve,

Achilles tendinopathy can be limiting, but with the right approach it is very treatable. If you are struggling with Achilles pain, book an appointment with us at Dalton Physiotherapy and take the first steps towards recovery and getting back to moving whether your goal is everyday walking or competitive sport.