Achilles Tendinopathy in Edmonds, WA

The Achilles tendon is a strong, flexible band of connective tissue located just above the ankle at the back of the leg. It connects the calf muscles to the heel bone and is crucial for moving your foot and pushing off when you walk or run. When the Achilles tendon becomes inflamed or damaged—often due to injury, overuse, or certain health issues—it can result in a painful and debilitating condition known as Achilles’ tendinopathy. This injury can significantly impact a person's ability to walk, run, or engage in sports, and in severe cases, it may lead to a painful tear in the tendon that can take months to heal.

What Is Achilles Tendinopathy?

Achilles tendinopathy is a common overuse injury affecting the Achilles tendon, often caused by tendon inflammation, strain, micro scarring, poor circulation, and tissue degeneration due to overuse, intense training, excessive pressure, and muscle compensation. While it’s most often seen in athletes, anyone can develop this condition. Achilles’ tendinopathy can lead to significant pain and discomfort, limiting your everyday activities and participation in sports, which can be frustrating and restrictive.

At Lilly Physical Therapy,, we provide safe, effective, and cutting-edge treatment to help manage Achilles tendinopathy and relieve pain as quickly as possible—because nobody wants to hurt with walking or sit on the sidelines. Our specialists are dedicated to healing and rejuvenating your damaged Achilles tendon, ensuring it functions properly through personalized physical therapy programs.

Causes of Achilles Tendinopathy

The most common causes of Achilles tendinopathy include overuse of the tendon, particularly among athletes, and excessive training on hard or uneven surfaces. Several factors can increase your risk of developing Achilles tendinopathy, such as age, gender, weight, activity level, training practices, footwear, high blood pressure, long-term use of steroids, family history, certain medications, and underlying medical conditions such as diabetes. Additionally, having Achilles tendinopathy on one side raises your risk of tendon injuries on the other side. Mild cases often involve acute pain during or shortly after specific activities. Moderate cases may lead to swelling or the formation of a hard lump in the tendon. Mild and moderate cases can progress to severe that can result in tendon rupture or tear, causing intense pain, inability to push off, and severe discomfort.

Symptoms of Achilles Tendinopathy

Common signs and symptoms that may indicate that you are suffering from Achilles tendinopathy include pain and stiffness in the back of the heel, a swelling in the region associated with difficulty walking, and reduced function and strength.

The Role of Physical Therapy in Treating Achilles Tendinopathy

Physical therapy can aid individuals with Achilles tendinopathy in recovering from their injury, alleviating pain, and regaining the ability to walk, run, and return to sports. It can make all the difference between being sidelined and achieving success on the field.

Our solution for Achilles Tendinopathy includes:

Strengthening of gluteal hip and core musculature to improve push off, decrease compensatory strategies, unload calf muscles and Achilles
Stretching: Gastrocnemius, soleus, Achilles, plantar fascia, hamstrings and hip flexors
Calf eccentric loading to elongate and strengthen

Manual therapy (soft tissue mobilization, instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization, joint mobilization)
Balance training to improve proprioception and sports performance
Multifunctional training and cross training to improve coordination, performance and stability
Footwear and Orthotics to support foot and arch
Patient education in selfcare, home exercise program and safe return to activates and sports
Cold Laser treatment to activate mitochondria, increase energy production of cells, speed up healing, increase elasticity and stress resilience of the Achilles Tendon
Cardiovascular conditioning, endurance, and agility training for return to activities and sports
Softwave treatment to activate stem cells, increase Achilles vascularization, modulate inflammation and eliminate pain

Achilles Tendinopathy Exercises in Edmonds, WA can help to restore function and mobility and prevent further injury in people who have suffered damage to their Achilles tendon. Physical Therapy for Achilles Tendinopathy in Edmonds, WA reduces pain and improves the overall quality of the patient’s life while considering whole body and whole person approach and incorporating cutting edge research, advanced manual techniques and cutting edge technology.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is physical therapy effective solution for Achilles tendonitis?

Yes, our physical therapy program is efficient, safe and natural treatment. It’s noninvasive techniques can help reduce pain and restore function and mobility after damage to the Achilles tendon.

What is the exercise management for Achilles tendinopathy?

During treatment, exercise is one of the most important physical therapy techniques for treating and managing Achilles tendinopathy. These exercises are developed or recommended by a physical therapist based on the assessment of the patient’s condition, latest research, level of activity and patient goals.

Softwave Therapy for Achilles tendonitis

Softwave treatment is cutting edge solution for Achilles tendinopathy. It is activating stem cells, increasing Achilles vascularization, modulating inflammation and eliminating pain ensuring fast and long lasting results.

Recently published data have shown the high evidence of efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in chronic Achilles tendinopathy. Efficiency of shockwave therapy is related to stem cell activation, tissue vascularization, elimination of pain and inflammation. Randomized placebo controlled trials have confirmed excellent results with regards to function and pain.

Link to study: https://softwavetrt.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ESWT-and-achilles.pd

How long to rehab Achilles tendinopathy?

Tendons take a longer time to respond to exercises and overall treatment, compared to muscles. A traditional treatment for Achilles tendinopathy can take up to 12-18 weeks, but our advanced physical therapy program can help you return to the game in half that time.

Conclusion

Achilles tendinopathy is a condition that occurs due to damage to the Achilles tendon from injuries, overuse or other medical conditions. This condition is excruciating, and it restricts mobility, causing more pain if left untreated. As a result, we offer a non-invasive, natural, fast and effective treatment method to manage Achilles tendinopathy. If you or your loved ones are suffering from this condition, you should consider seeking treatment at Lilly Physical Therapy.

“Very friendly and accommodating staff, amazing therapists. My Plantar Fascia pain disappeared in no time! Definitely recommend this clinic!” CH