**INJURY OF THE WEEK**
ACHILLES TENDINOPATHY
The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles (Gastrocnemius and Soleus) to the back of the heel (Calcaneus). A tendinopathy leads to pain, often stiffness, inflammation and even degeneration of the tendon. This can occur at the musculotendinous junction (where the muscle and tendon join, in the middle part of the tendon or where the tendon joins the bone (Enthesopathy).
Tendon injuries occur as a result of overuse. This can be due to a sudden increase in training load or intensity or a biomechanical issue reducing the efficiency of a tendon.
For example, an everted Achilles tendon due to excessive over-pronation will result in load passing through a tendon that is placed in a stretched position.
PREDISPOSING FACTORS
Age
Weight
Diabetes
WHAT TO ASSESS AND TREAT!
Stiffness in the ankle or foot joints
Tight calf muscles
Weak calf muscles
Weak glute muscles – increases pronation
Poor calf endurance
Poor core or hip stability
In order to correctly manage the injury, it must be loaded and all the areas above must be address to properly rehabilitate the injury.
Depending on the position of the tendon pain, the injury must be rehabilitated differently and in all circumstances loading and management of training load is essential. Initially you must reduce training and then begin to improve biomechanics to manage load approriately. HEAVY, SLOW RESISTANCE TRAINING is essential in tendon injuries.
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR OUR ACHILLES TENDON INJURY REHABILITTION LATER THIS WEEK