Achilles Tendon Problems Achilles tendinopathy commonly occurs in runners and jumpers, with up to 50% experiencing the condition in their lifetime(1). Not all those affected are active with 33% of individuals reporting a sedentary lifestyle(2). Individuals with this condition report pain, stiffness, and loss of function with daily and recreational activities. This condition was originally...
Modalities in Physical Therapy come and go. Many clinics have closets full of old, outdated, and unproven modalities that were once the next best thing for pain. In my experience, the worst thing about these modalities outside of their ineffectiveness is they displace proven and effective interventions such as manual therapy and exercise. Currently, this...
Achilles tendon pain, previously called achilles tendinitis and now called achilles tendinopathy, is a common condition in both sedentary, active, and athletic populations. Researchers estimate this condition will affect between up to 1 in 5 runners in their lifespan with the highest prevalence among all athletes found in ages younger than 45. In our practice...
Ankle mobility is essential for both daily walking tasks as well as higher level athletics and sports participation. In our Physical Therapy practice in Boulder we see a loss of dorsiflexion, bending, among athletes with lower extremity injuries and conditions. A lack of ankle bend, dorsiflexion, has been associated with many conditions including heel pain, plantar...
Achilles tendon ruptures are uncommon and occur in approximately 5-10 people out of 10,000. Authors report this injury is most likely in males between the ages of 20-30 and 40-50 who play recreational sports. Individuals often report a sudden jolt or pain during a jumping or accelerating movement followed by an inability to walk and/or...
Tendon injuries are one of the most common sports injuries seen in our Lafayette and Boulder Physical Therapy clinics. Most often overuse in nature, tendon injuries can significantly limit an individual’s ability to perform their daily and recreational activities. Tendinopathy, formerly known as tendinitis, describes the chronic cellular chemical and structural changes that occur...
Achilles tendon ruptures are most commonly seen in patients 30-40 years of age and 4-5 times more likely in males versus females. The injury is often associated with a sudden increase in force placed upon the tendon either from rapid progressions in sport activities or trauma (ex. fall from height). These injuries can also occur...
The achilles tendon is a strong, durable structure capable of absorbing and producing large loads as we walk, hike, and run. When the tendon is overloaded without adequate recovery periods this structure is prone to painful and limiting conditions such as achilles tendonitis and tendinopathy. One of the important risk factors for achilles injury among...
Our prior posts on tendon injuries have described the structural changes that take place with chronic symptomatic tendinopathies. The disorganization of tendon fibers and the body’s attempts to heal the injured tendon are best viewed on ultrasound or MRI imaging. MRI is a very sensitive tool, but lacks specificity meaning a positive finding may or...
