achilles tendinopathy Archives

Evidence Does Not Support Utilization Of Surgery Over Physical Therapy For Most Musculoskeletal Conditions

July 20, 2022

The vast majority of musculoskeletal conditions and diagnoses are not life threatening or time sensitive and allow for conservative treatments, including Physical Therapy, to be utilized prior to surgery. In our Boulder Physical Therapy practice we commonly see outcomes consistent with the current research on the utilization of Physical Therapy instead of surgery for common...

sports injuries

Regular Exercise Shown To Improve Tendon Health

March 7, 2022

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...

Foot and Ankle Injuries

Active Interventions Superior To Wait And See For Achilles Tendon Pain

June 18, 2020

Our understanding of tendon pain and injuries has changed significantly over the last two decades and has driven changes in Physical Therapy treatment selection. As a profession we have moved away from a rest and immobilization approach and replaced it with an active approach designed to first strengthen the tendon’s muscle and secondly heal or...

general physical therapy

Isometrics > 70% of Maximum Contraction Shown To Improve Tendon Healing

January 23, 2020

Tendinopathies, the artist formally known as tendinitis, are common orthopedic and sports medicine conditions affecting both athletes and the general population. Repetitive overload (overuse) of these structures creates a reactive followed by degenerative process in the affected tendon. These injured tissues have not been shown to have significant numbers of inflammatory cells but rather show...

Foot and Ankle Injuries

How Much Weight Is Needed To Treat My Achilles Tendon Injury?

September 24, 2019

Achilles tendinopathy is the most common tendon injuries seen in our Boulder Physical Therapy practice. Patients often present with pain along the mid portion of the achilles tendon during walking, hiking, running, or jumping activities. The greatest risk factors for this condition include a loss of ankle flexibility (dorsiflexion) and calf weakness. Both of these...

Foot and Ankle Injuries

How Heavy Should I Load My Achilles Tendon After An Overuse Injury?

February 12, 2019

In the achilles tendinopathy (artist formally known as tendonitis) research two main themes have emerged. First, there is little to no evidence to support the use of injections of any kind into an injured tendon. Authors have advocated against steroid injections due to the risk of tendon rupture outweighing any potential benefits. Studies have also...

Foot and Ankle Injuries

Achilles Tendon Injury Treatments

May 7, 2018

A recent clinical practice guideline was published advising clinicians and patients on the management of achilles tendon injury (tendinopathy). These guidelines are based on both the available medical research and medical opinions from experts in the field. The Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy reported the following for management of mid portion achilles tendinopathy...

Sports Performance

Updates on the Successful Management of Tendon Pain

April 14, 2018

Photo Credit: Scott, A. CMAJ. 2011. Mead, M. Transl Sports Med. 2018. Tendon injuries have previously been diagnosed as tendonitis and were believed to be marked by an inflammatory process in the tissue. Our current knowledge on these injuries has been improved by a better understanding of the disease process behind tendon pain. Current research...

sports injuries

Calf Muscle Weakness Remains Up To 7 Years Post Achilles Tendon Repair

February 26, 2018

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...

Foot and Ankle Injuries

Risk Factors for Achilles Tendinopathy

December 27, 2016

Achilles Tendinopathy is a common injury to the lower leg found in runners, jumping athletes, and sedentary individuals. In our previous blog posts on Achilles Tendinopathy we have described the impact of this diagnosis on the active population. Physical Therapy remains the gold standard for conservative care focusing on restoring joint mobility and strength to...

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