Does PT Help With Achilles Tendonitis?

At Island Sports Physical Therapy, our mission is to combine compassion with state-of-the-art physical therapy care to help keep our patients healthy and active. There are many conditions our team can treat, one of them being Achilles tendonitis. If you believe you are developing this condition, don’t wait to seek out help. We’ll provide you with the sessions of physical therapy needed for you to make a full recovery.

What Is Achilles Tendonitis?  

The Achilles tendon is a band of fibrous tissue that connects your calf muscles to your heel bone. When this tendon is subjected to repeated stress and strains, it can become inflamed and lead to Achilles tendonitis. This tendon tends to weaken with age, meaning those of older ages who participate in sports or other physical activities are likely to develop Achilles tendonitis. However, anyone who overuses the tendon may be at risk.

Symptoms To Watch For

Just like with any other injury, knowing when Achilles tendonitis is taking place will play a role in increasing the odds of you making a full recovery. Should Achilles tendonitis go unchecked for too long, there is a chance that the tendon completely ruptures. When this takes place, surgery will be required to correct the issue, which will increase the amount of time you spend recovering. To avoid a severe issue like this from happening to you, we recommend visiting our team should you develop any of the below symptoms:

• Limited range of motion when flexing your foot.
• Tighten calf muscles.
• Discomfort and pain towards the back of your heel.
• Swelling.
• Worsening pain when you walk or run.    

Most Common Causes

As previously stated, the Achilles tendon weakens with age, which leaves people more susceptible to develop Achilles tendonitis, as they get older. This however is not the only way this condition can develop. Understanding the common causes of this condition may help you to avoid it in the future. Examples of the most common causes that lead to Achilles tendonitis include the below:

• Exercising without warming up first.
• Continuously straining your calf muscles during physical activity.
• Working out in poorly fitting shoes.
• Suddenly increasing the intensity of your training.  
• Living with bone spurs.  

What Is Physical Therapy?

When you choose to work with our team when dealing with Achilles tendonitis, one of the more common treatment methods we’ll recommend is physical therapy. Physical therapy is a non-invasive form of treatment and can help prevent the tendon from rupturing in the future. Recovery is achieved by using therapeutic stretches and strengthening exercises to promote healing from within the affected area. Our staff will teach you how to perform these healing exercises, which include the below:

• Runner’s stretch.
• Toe-to-wall stretch.
• Heel drop.
• Seated heel raises.
• Resistance band calf exercises.  

Benefits Of Physical Therapy

Due to the nature of this form of treatment, physical therapy comes with many benefits. Our team at Island Sports Physical Therapy knows this, which is why it is one of the most popular rehabilitation services we offer at our facility. It can be used to treat a wide range of treatments, including Achilles tendonitis. Additional benefits that come through sessions of physical therapy include:

• Improved range of motion.
• Increased strength.
• Reduction of swelling.
• Elimination of pain.
• Regaining strength in the injured area. 
• Mitigating the chances of needing surgery. 

Contact Our Team

Achilles tendonitis can quickly dampen your quality of life. When you’re unable to move around without experiencing pain and discomfort, everyday tasks can feel like they are now impossible to complete. Fortunately, our team is well versed in this issue. We can provide the sessions of physical therapy needed to help you make a full recovery. For more information on this form of treatment and how it can help with your Achilles tendonitis, be sure to contact our team today.