Achilles Injuries
You’ve probably heard of the phrase “Achilles heel.” It refers to a person having a weakness or vulnerability in spite of how strong they are. In ancient myths, a character’s “Achilles heel” was the reason for their ultimate downfall!
Although the phrase is used in old tales, it’s origin comes from a very real part of the human body: the Achilles tendon. This tendon is the strongest, largest tendon we have, and it’s located in the back of your heel. It helps you to walk, run, or do any other number of movements with your feet, and although it can handle some undue pressure, injuries do occur if too much stress is placed on it.
If you’re experiencing pain in your heel when you’re walking, it’s a good idea to get your condition assessed by a Gulf Shore Physical Therapy Center physical therapist as soon as possible so you can receive proper care. Our clinic in Sarasota, FL is equipped to treat Achilles injuries through a variety of conservative treatment methods.
Types of Achilles injuries
There are a few different kinds of injuries you can sustain to your Achilles tendon.
Achilles tendinitis can occur as a result of the overuse of the Achilles tendon. This condition causes painful inflammation and swelling, and can make it difficult to put weight on the affected heel. This is a very common sports injury, but anyone who puts a good amount of stress on their feet is at risk for developing it as well.
Symptoms of Achilles tendinitis include:
- Weakness in the leg
- Pain in the leg and heel after exercising
- Pain when ascending stairs or walking up an incline
- Swelling in the heel area
- Stiffness in the leg that is typically worse in the morning
Achilles tendon ruptures happen when there is tearing of the tendon connecting the heel bone to calf muscles. When this occurs, fibers separate and result in painful symptoms. Tendon ruptures are common in people from the ages of 30 to 50, and are often the result of sudden increases in physical activity, poor footwear, or exercising on uneven ground.
Symptoms of Achilles tendon ruptures include:
- Swelling, inflammation, redness
- Severe pain in back of the ankle
- Tenderness
- Inability to lift yourself up on your toes
How do we treat Achilles injuries?
The good news is that although Achilles injuries are painful, physical therapy at Gulf Shore Physical Therapy Center in Sarasota, FL can help you get back to feeling your best. We use a variety of safe, holistic treatment methods for our patients dealing with foot, leg, and heel pain, including:
- Therapeutic exercise
- Laser therapy
- Ultrasound therapy
- Ice therapy
Physical therapy isn’t just about doing specialized exercises. Manual pain relief treatment often forms a significant portion of a physical therapy session for Achilles injuries.
Manual therapy is the hands-on component of PT. These treatments not only give you much-needed pampering, but they also ease pain and discomfort. Massage, heat and cold applications and even specialized machines all play a part in easing aching joints.
Your physical therapist will be sure to do a comprehensive assessment of your condition to find out exactly what areas in your heel, foot, and leg are causing you the most pain. From there, they’ll be able to create a comprehensive treatment program that will help you heal from your Achilles injury, no matter what the cause may be from.
Contact us today for an appointment
Gulf Shore Physical Therapy Center’s physical therapists will also improve your range of motion and strength by utilizing targeted exercises, stretches, and functional training. You don’t have to continue living in pain! To set up a consultation with one of our skilled physical therapists, contact our Sarasota, FL clinic and let us help you find relief from your Achilles injury.
