Your body has approximately 4,000 tendons – strips of fibrous, flexible tissue that connect muscle to bone in order to facilitate movement. However, your Achilles tendons may well be the only ones you’ve heard of. After all, they’re longer, thicker and stronger than the others and play a vital role in many daily activities, such as walking, running and going up or down stairs.
What’s more, Achilles tendon problems are unfortunately very common; we see them frequently in patients at our London podiatry clinics. Individuals who need to be on their feet all day at work (including waiters/waitresses, shop assistants, builders, etc.) or like to exercise intensely at an amateur or professional level are most at risk of such problems, as they’re putting their lower limbs under considerable strain. For example, the NHS estimates that one in every 8,000 competitive athletes is suffering from an Achilles tendon rupture (a serious, painful condition we’ll discuss later in this article) at any given time.
The Tissue Is Easily Damaged and Slow to Heal
The Achilles tendon is named after one of the heroes of ancient Greek mythology, and in the words of academic medical group the Cleveland Clinic, ‘it does pretty heroic work helping your body move every day’. One runs down the back of each leg, from the middle of your calf to your heel bone, and is responsible for lifting or lowering the back of your foot every time your calf muscles tighten or relax. In other words, your Achilles tendons are like levers acting on your feet.
The trouble is that because they’re required for so many forms of movement, they sustain wear and tear, and also get weaker as a result of the ageing process, Achilles tendons are easily irritated and prone to stress, tearing and other issues. It can be difficult to rest them properly even when they’re painful, given how much people rely on them day in and day out, so injuries can easily be aggravated. Plus, some particularly active individuals such as runners or dancers may make an ill-judged attempt to push through the pain because they don’t want it to stop them from training.
To make matters worse, each Achilles tendon ‘has a relatively poor blood supply throughout its length’, emphasises Physiopedia, a physiotherapy resource. Damaged tissue is therefore unlikely to receive sufficient oxygen or nutrients to heal rapidly, which means recovering from Achilles tendon problems can take months – especially if people don’t seek specialist treatment and advice from foot health specialists straight away.
The Three Main Achilles Tendon Problems
Our London podiatry experts often treat patients who have the following Achilles tendon problems:
- Achilles tendonitis (also spelt tendinitis) – this acute inflammation of the tissue is usually linked to overuse of the tendon, repetitive motion or lack of rest after being active. It’s the most common cause of Achilles tendon pain. Achilles tendonitis is often diagnosed in runners who suddenly try to run faster or cover longer distances than usual without steadily improving their fitness level first.
- Achilles tendinosis – the tendon breaks down or thickens as a result of stress, strain and multiple tiny tears, leading to dull pain. This chronic, degenerative condition develops gradually. Causes include prolonged overuse of the tendon, poor foot and ankle function, and poor technique when exercising.
- Achilles tendon rupture – the tendon is stretched to breaking point, often due to a twisted ankle, fall, sudden change of direction or overexertion, and becomes badly torn or even snaps. When this severe injury is sustained, an individual may feel a ‘popping’ sensation followed by sharp pain. Footballer David Beckham missed the 2010 World Cup due to an Achilles tendon rupture, with the Guardian newspaper reporting at the time that the problem was serious enough to threaten his career.
Achilles Tendon Treatment from Skilled London Podiatrists
Our skilled podiatrists can diagnose problems with the Achilles tendon by examining the area, assessing foot and ankle mobility, and using an imaging test such as an ultrasound scan to check for tears, etc.
A number of effective treatments for Achilles tendon damage are available. For example, hands-on Foot Mobilisation Therapy relieves pain and improves mobility. Shockwave Therapy stimulates blood flow, thereby speeding up the healing process. Prescription orthotics optimise foot and ankle function, taking the strain off the tendon. In severe cases, surgical repair can be beneficial.
If you have Achilles tendon pain, it’s important to act quickly to prevent the problem from getting out of hand. You can book an appointment at our Canary Wharf E14 foot clinic or one of our other hygienic, well-equipped London locations.
Having Achilles tendon trouble? Contact Feet By Pody today for expert help.