Achilles Tendonitis - Lewis Nurney, Singapore Podiatrist

Tendons are thick, fibrous cords of connective tissue which connect muscles to bone. They facilitate the movement of a bone or structure. In this case, the Achilles tendon is responsible for helping the knee joint to flex and plantarflexion of the ankle joint. Under too much strain and stress, even the strongest tendon can become injured. Overuse can cause the tendon to become inflamed, this is known as Achilles Tendonitis or Tendinitis. As the injury progresses, collagen degeneration and scar formation can occur within the tendon. This deterioration of the Achilles tendon is known as Achilles Tendinopathy. Not only does this reduce the flexibility of the tendon, but thickening or lumps can also be felt within the region of scar formation. If further overuse injury occurs, the tendon could rupture or tear.

Symptoms of Achilles Tendonitis
1. Ache or sharp pain anywhere along the back of the tendon and posterior heel
2. Limited ankle flexibility
3. Redness or heat over the painful area
4. Severe pain the day after exercising
5. Pain and stiffness along the tendon in the morning
6. Swelling at the injury site

Causes of Achilles Tendinitis
Achilles tendonitis is typically not related to a specific traumatic incident and results from the repetitive stress of the tendon. This can be seen when individuals push their bodies too much and/or too soon, but other factors can also contribute to the injury.

These factors are:
1. Leg length discrepancy
2. Overuse
3. Increasing the intensity of an activity too quickly
4.Changing training surfaces too abruptly (soft to hard)
5. Inappropriate footwear
6. Too tight or fatigued muscles
7. Not stretching enough before activity
8. Deviated or unstable rearfoot axis

Other factors such as obesity, age, and diabetes can also predispose an individual to sustain an Achilles tendon injury. From a physiological perspective, the lowered blood circulation around the Achilles tendon predisposes it to delayed healing compared to other tendons in the body. The Achilles tendon can receive a stress load of up to 4 times our body weight while walking… now imagine the stress load when running and jumping! That is why Achilles tendon injuries are most common in high-load, high-impact sports such as Basketball, Running, and Gymnastics. Due to the frequent use of this tendon, Achilles tendon pain should be treated as soon as possible to prevent it from deteriorating.

Achilles Tendonitis Treatment
Extracorporeal Magnetotransduction Therapy (EMTT) with the MAGNETOLITH is an extremely comfortable in-clinic treatment that treats Achilles Tendonitis. It provides high oscillating frequency of 100-300kHz into the treatment area, with deep penetration of up to 18cm. This stimulates tissue regeneration deeper than most treatments available today without causing any pain or discomfort during the treatment. The long-term effect is regeneration and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions with a significant decrease in pain and improved function. There are no side effects nor downtime meaning patients can continue with their day as normal.

What happens after treatment?
After treatment, patients frequently describe the area of concern as ‘changing’, ‘something is healing/happening’, and a small number experience a slight increase in bone aching if their condition is more advanced.

Generally, this treatment is not a one-time treatment and is used over a period for relief of pain and enhanced healing, EMTT is recommended to be used 1-2x a week depending on the injury or concern at hand. If you experience any changes or new sensations during or after treatment, please inform your Podiatrist immediately.

Podiatrists are lower limb specialists who will assess and diagnose your issue, then devise a treatment plan which will accelerate your recovery, optimise your sports performance, and most importantly, treat the pain in your Achilles tendon.

See a Podiatrist today!

EAST COAST PODIATRY ( ECPC )
  / eastcoastpodiatrycentre  

www.EastCoastPodiatry.sg | email: [email protected]

Clinic Locations:

Orchard Clinic
302 Orchard Road . Tong Building #09-02 . Singapore 238862
Tel: (+65) 6884 4123

Kembangan Clinic
18 Jalan Masjid . Kembangan Plaza # B1-02/04/05 . Singapore 418944
Tel: (+65) 6848 5156

Novena Clinic
10 Sinaran Drive . Novena Medical Center #08-12/13 . Singapore 307506
Tel: (+65) 6235 2132