achilies tendon Flashcards
where is the achilles tendon?
lower posterior side of the leg/ankle, connects the gastroc and soleus muscle to the calcaneus.
What is the anatomical make up and role of the Achilles tendon?
Fibrous connective tissue, one of the thickest tendons in the body. allows for plantarflexion, make up allows for elasticity and shock absorption in the foot.
What is achilles tendinopathy and some causes?
an overuse injury straining and causing damage to the tendon, caused by repetitive or intense strain, like running and jumping or triggered by intensity spikes. overloading in plantarflexion
how long does rehab take?
grade 1 - 4-6 weeks
3 to 6 months, constant use of feet can prolong injury.
what are some symptoms of grade 1 and 2 achilles tendinopothy?
grade 1, mild strain with few torn fibers, pain in the heel, ability to weight bear, discomfort in the mornings, tightness in the calf. minor swelling.
grade 2, moderate to severe pain with swelling, reduced ROM and weight bearing. Less than half of tendon fibers torn, causing pain, tenderness and some swelling. Most activities (walking, running or jumping) are accompanied by pain. potential use of crutches
how and what excercises would we use to rehab?
price to begin with, avoiding high impact or intense activities to allow injury to recover. stretching calf and soleuos and feet to allow ROM. eccentric and static excerises before progressing to dynamic. calf raises, calf raises with knee bent (working soleus), uni lateral calf raises after bi-lateral. progressing to agility and landing drills ensuring mechanics are correct. injury may have been triggered by running/landing technique and therefore potential investigation into these movements.
