Treatment of Achilles Tendon Problems: Faster is Better!
Treatment of Achilles tendon problems should be started as soon as possible to prevent more severe injuries. Treatment may consist of rest, taping, physiotherapy, orthotic insoles, or a brace. With one or more of these treatments and, above all, patience, everyone can overcome these complaints!
To prevent further injuries to the Achilles tendons, it is advisable to start treatment of Achilles tendon problems as soon as possible. A common mistake is to ‘run off’ the injury. Treatment may include:
- Rest
- Achilles Tendon Support
- Taping
- Physiotherapy
- Orthotic insoles
- Casting
Or a combination of the above. In case of very acute severe pain and loss of strength in the ankle, it is necessary to exclude a rupture (tendon tear), always consult a (family) doctor as soon as possible for this.
The Achilles Tendon (tendo calcaneus) is the tendon that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone (os calcaneus). The Achilles tendon is the common tendon of the calf muscles, the gastrocnemius muscle, and the soleus muscle (together they form the triceps surae muscle).
The m. gastrocnemius consists of two muscle heads and is the superficial muscle of the calf. This muscle gives the calf its characteristic bulge. The muscle runs over the knee joint and the ankle and has the function of both bending the knee and extending the ankle.
The m. soleus is a muscle deeper than the gastrocnemius, wider and longer than the gastrocnemius. The soleus runs from just below the knee joint to the heel bone. The main function of the soleus is ankle extension.
The Achilles tendon connects these muscles to the heel bone and is the strongest and thickest tendon in the human body. In most people, the Achilles tendon is about 15cm long. Despite the tendon being extremely strong, complaints can arise.
Achilles tendon problems are often called ‘Achillodynia‘. Achillodynia is a collective term for pain complaints in the Achilles tendon. Various injuries to the Achilles tendons are possible, with various causes. But the main cause is usually overuse injury. Overuse can cause damage to the Achilles tendon, often due to prolonged or repeated overuse resulting in slowly developing painful irritation, tendon damage, and swelling. This is called tendinopathy.
There may also be an acute inflammation (tendonitis), recognizable by swelling, redness, warmth, and pain. To minimize the damage from this overuse, it is extremely important not to wait too long to start treatment! Neglecting the injury may even result in partial or complete rupture of the Achilles tendon!
When the complaints have been present for a long time and gradually worsen, a painful thickening on the Achilles tendon will often become visible. This is a proliferation of connective tissue as a reaction of the body to constant irritation and overuse. Although this thickening is not harmful, it can be bothersome.
To reduce complaints, it is necessary to start treatment as soon as possible. Depending on the nature of the injury, a general practitioner may prescribe physiotherapy and/or anti-inflammatory drugs. However, nowadays, various braces have also been developed specifically for these injuries. Some examples are:
These products are compression socks to expel any edema (fluid and swelling) and prevent new swelling. In addition, they are equipped with a silicone friction pad that wraps around the Achilles tendon to slowly massage away connective tissue swelling on the Achilles tendon itself throughout the day. Some products also have a silicone heel lift to reduce pressure on the Achilles tendon itself.
Another pain relief method is to simply wear (silicone) heel lifts throughout the day.
Important! It is important to stretch the Achilles tendons with exercises or during the night with a night splint. This is to prevent shortening of the Achilles tendons and the recurrence of Achilles tendon problems!
Night splints suitable for this purpose:
The most important aspect of treatment for Achilles tendons is patience. All methods are conservative treatment methods, meaning the body has to regulate the recovery itself. This requires time. At least 6 weeks, but 3 months is more common to expect a good and permanent result.
The biggest pitfall for patients is that they start loading their Achilles tendons too early or too heavily. This often results in the recurrence of complaints…
If you still have questions, please feel free to contact one of our specialists at the customer service for free and without obligation!
