(3) Lecture 14: Lower Leg Issues + Knee Anatomy 1 Flashcards
Achilles
- made up of gastroc + soleus fusing proximal to calcaneal insertion
- retrocalcaneal bursa is btwn the tendon and calcaneus
- THICKEST + STRONGEST TENDON in the body
- has NO synovial sheath but is surrounded by paratenon (ONLY VASCULAR tendons are surrounded by paratenon = good healing)
Paratenon
Surrounds only VASCULAR tendons = good healing
Posterior Heel Pain
Could be
- Achilles tendonitis
- Achilles bursitis
- Retrocalcaneal bursitis
True tendon pain is CONFINED to tendon itself = doesn’t hurt around tendon
Retrocalcaneal bursitis
- bursa in recess btwn anterior inferior side of Achilles tendon and posterosuperior aspect of calcaneus
- sometimes seen w/ insertional tendinopathy = tendon thickens + puts pressure
- structural irritants (tight/pokey)
- pain JUST ABOVE INSERTION OF ACHILLES
- pain with SQUEEZE FROM SIDE
Achilles bursitis
Superficial calcaneal bursitis
- bursa btwn calcaneal prominence/Achilles tendon and skin
- pain on POSTERIOR aspect of HEEL with solid SWELLING
- often due to excessive FRICTION or by wearing shoes that are too tight or large
Management of “itis” of the heel
- POLICE/PEACE & LOVE
Address training and equipment issues
- heel lift (takes tension off gastrocs/soleus/Achilles)
- pad or donut
- Achilles stretch
- new shpes
Soleus stretch
stand with BOTH knees bent and involved foot back
gently lean into wall until stretch in calf
Gastroc stretch
2-jt muscle = need to chang position of top muscle to put it on stretch
Keep back leg straight, heel on floor with foot turned slightly inward. Front leg bent. Lean toward wall until stretch in calf
Tendinitis
Tendinitis: inflammation of tendon itself (RARE)
Paratenonitis
Inflammation, pain and crepitation of the paratenon as it slides over the structure
Causes of Tendinitis/Paratenonitis
Acute irritation = too much, too soon
External factors
- rub from shoe/equipment
- running down hill - Tib ant.
- rub from laces - Tib ant.
- hyper dorsiflexion - Achilles
Internal factors like foot malalignment
- rub over bome
- cavus or flat feet
Symptoms and signs of Paratenonitis
- pain or crepitation of paratenon of acute onset
- red and hot over involved structure
- usually precipitated by movement around the ankle joint - too much, too soon
Diagnosis of Tendinitis/Paratenonitis
- local swelling
- STTT - contractile tissues
- palpation over structures
Paratenonitis Rehab
Inflammatory/Destructive
- POLICE/PEACE & LOVE
- heel lift/pad/support
Repair
- heat
- idealize ROM - stretch gastrocs/soleus
- start strength and proprioception
- ADDRESS TRAINING ISSUES
Remodeling
- idealize strength
- soft tissue work to realign fibres
- speed and power training
Tendinosis/Tendinopathy
- chronic pathological changes brought about by repetitive micro-trauma
- NO INFLAMMATION = inflammatory cells are absent
- characteristic changes in collagen fibre structure
- abnormal/poor vascularity