Achilles Tendonitis Overview
Achilles tendonitis is an injury that affects the posterior portion of the lower leg. The Achilles tendon connects the two major calf muscles to the heal bone. The role of the Achilles tendon is to supply the lower leg with the force required during the push off phase of the individuals Gait.
There are many complications involved with any injury to the Achilles tendon including a false sense of recovery during exercise and the possibility of the condition becoming chronic.
The phases of tissue healing are divided into two separate phases, the regeneration phase and the repair phase. These two phases can furthermore be broken down into four components – bleeding, inflammatory, proliferation and remodeling.
A plan for treatment intervention should include rehabilitation work by both the individual with the injury and also by the health professional they are seeking treatment from. The rehabilitation process needs to be a joint effort on both behalves in order to get results. There are a number of different health care professionals which a patient with Achilles tendonitis can be referred to including physiotherapists, general practitioners and podiatrists.