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The Achilles tendon is a thick band of tissue located at the back of the lower leg and connects the calf muscle to the heel. Injuries are commonly seen in two groups: the most active population and those who are sedentary, usually among individuals 30-50 years old.
Many risk factors for an Achilles injury exist, including:
• Increase in activity level
• Training errors
• Lack of foot mobility
• Decreased foot strength
• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
Runners are one group of athletes who deal with Achilles injuries more frequently than others. This is usually due to increasing mileage or intensity during the training season, which can place high demands on the Achilles tendon. It is estimated that 7-9% of runners will sustain an Achilles injury each year and almost 50% of all runners will experience Achilles pain in their running careers.
Achilles injuries can be frustrating due to the limitations in daily activities, including pain with:
• Walking
• Stairs
• Standing
• Running
Conservative treatment is usually effective in aiding with Achilles pain. Your therapist will discuss possible modifications with the activities that may have caused your pain. They will also assess your strength and mobility to see if these are factors contributing to your injury. If you are a runner, your therapist will also discuss running progressions to get you back on track with your training season.
We have had the pleasure of witnessing hundreds patients return to their normal activities pain-free. We specialize in helping athletes rehab their injury and get back to their sport with the helpful knowledge of how to prevent re-injury.
If you experience this injury or know of someone who needs help, please let them know that we are here and getting scheduled is easy.
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