The Achilles Tendon

One of the most common tendons to rupture is the largest tendon known as the Achilles tendon and stretches from the bones of the heel all the way to your calf muscles. When the Achilles tendon is injured, the pain is mild and creates a burning sensation and is stiff. There are approximately 30,000 people in the United States aging from 30 to 49 who experience a torn or ruptured tendon.

While there are many different type of treatment for the Achilles tendon injury, physical therapy is one of the more successful and common ways to treat any type of Achilles tendon injury. At Fusion Physical Therapy we will create a customized therapy plan that may include the following

• Strengthening Exercises
  • A customized exercise plan will be created for you that will strengthen the tendon which may have lost strength during the time of healing
• Stretching Exercises
  • Stretching exercises will also help the tendon heal without causing long term pain
• Cold Therapy
  • Our therapists may use cold packs and ice massages which decrease blood flow and should decrease pain and swelling
• Heat Therapy
  • We may also choose to use moist hot packs, heating pads or paraffin to increase blood flow which causes your muscles to relax as well as heals the body tissues
• Deep Massage
  • A deep massage increases blood circulation and helps the tendons prevent injury in the future

The above are treatments are non-surgical treatments for any type of Achilles tendon injury. If your injury is severe you may require surgical treatment. Physical Therapy will be recommended from your physician after the surgery has occurred. At Fusion Physical Therapy we will partner with you and your physician to create a customized treatment plan which will increase your mobility and get you back to your normal daily activities. Within 3 to 8 weeks after surgery our treatment options would include the following

• Therapeutic Exercises
• R.I.C.E. (Protection-Rest-Ice-Compression-Elevation)
  • PRICE controls inflammation while allowing healing and recovery to take place
• Manual Therapy
• Trigger Point Dry Needling (TrP-DN)
  • TrP-DN aids to alleviate soreness and tenderness that is associated with trigger points

Contact Fusion Physical Therapy today and one of our trained Physical Therapists will treat your Achilles tendon injury and get you back to normal functioning.