Best Practice Case Studies-AchillesTendino PE

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Achilles tendinopathy is a condition affecting the Achilles tendon, the thick band connecting the calf muscle to the heel bone. This condition results from stress, leading to small tears or damage to the tendon, often exacerbated during activities like running and jumping. Factors such as being overweight, having diabetes, or abnormal foot alignment can contribute. Initially, the condition is termed "tendinitis" when inflammation is present, typically within the first ten days. When the inflammation subsides but damage remains, it is referred to as "tendinopathy."<br /><br />Symptoms include pain and swelling over the tendon, worsening with physical activity, and improving with heat or ice. Treatment involves pain management through ice and anti-inflammatory medications, and possibly shoe inserts or braces. Strengthening and flexibility are restored through exercises like calf stretching and eccentric exercises that lengthen the calf muscle to rebuild the tendon and regain strength. If pain persists, injections or surgery might be necessary.<br /><br />Injury prevention focuses on maintaining flexible and strong calf and leg muscles, correcting walking patterns, and ensuring adequate rest between high-intensity activities. A gradual increase in activity is recommended. A comprehensive rehabilitation program might take 12 to 20 weeks, and return to sports is advised only when the injured leg’s strength approaches that of its uninjured counterpart. For a gradual return, one indicator is performing at least five heel raises on the injured leg to a height nearly matching the healthy leg.<br /><br />The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) is dedicated to sports medicine education, research, and advocacy, with a membership of over 2,500 physicians specializing in non-surgical sports medicine. They provide comprehensive care for athletes across all levels and can be found at www.amssm.org.

Meta Tag

Edition 2nd Edition

Related Case 2nd Edition, CASE 11

Topic Foot and Ankle

Keywords

2nd Edition, CASE 11

2nd Edition

Foot and Ankle

Achilles tendinopathy

Achilles tendon

tendinitis

tendon damage

pain management

calf stretching

eccentric exercises

injury prevention

rehabilitation program

AMSSM