Achilles-tendonitis-tendinitis

Achilles Tendinitis

Tendons are the cords that attach muscle to bone and are highly involved in the transfer of muscular tension to the skeleton, thereby relieving the stress placed on muscles . This involvement requires strength, elasticity and flexibility. The Achilles tendon, named after the great mythological warrior and hero of Homer’s Iliad who died after an arrow pierced his ankle, represents the largest and strongest tendon present in the human body, and attaches the calf muscles to the heel bone.

It can withstand loads in excess of 1000 pounds from actions such as squat jumping, running and hopping, but is the most commonly ruptured tendon in the body. The incidence rate of Achilles tendon rupture has steadily increased throughout the years, with a current recorded incidence rate of 21.5 per 100,000 in the Finnish population, 32.6 per 100,000 in the Danish population and 6 per 100,000 in the Scottish population. The incidence rate in recent times in the general population is unknown.

Achilles tendinopathy, synonymous to Achilles tendinitis, encompasses a wide range of overuse injuries, from inflammation of the tendon to tendon rupture. When first described in medical literature, injury to the Achilles tendons was noted to bring on dire symptoms and eventually (if not treated), death. It was also noted that if injury was too severe, surgery was a necessity. It is now known that the Achilles tendons have a low blood supply (vascularity), and hence poor healing potential. It has been estimated to be responsible for up to half of all sports related injuries, but 75% of these cases take place in middle aged men taking part in sports.
achilles tendinitis  

There are four categories of Achilles tendinopathy:

  • Paratendinopathy – where the sheath is inflamed.
  • Tendinopathy of the tendon body – this is a non-inflammatory, degenerative injury affecting the tendon body itself.
  • Pantendinopathy – this is a combination of the two conditions described above.
  • Tendon rupture – this is where the tendon ruptures, or tears. This type of injury is rare.

 

Causes/Risk

Injuries to the tendons can be acute, resulting from trauma to the region, or chronic, which would be affected by both internal and external factors. For the latter, internal factors such as the following can contribute to chronic injury:

  • Tendon vascularity
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Calf muscle strength
  • BMI
  • Ankle stability

For external factors, the following can lead to injury and predisposes athletes to such injuries:

  • Poor technique
  • Change in the training pattern and intensity
  • Previous injuries
  • Improper footwear and training surface
  • Repetitive uphill/downhill activity

Excessive loading of the tendons, however, is the most common aetiology.

 

Symptoms

The main symptom of Achilles tendinopathy is pain, which may arise from mechanical and biochemical factors rather than inflammation as the suffix “-itis” implies. The precise mechanism, however, that results in pain from this injury has not been fully elucidated. Pain typically occurs at the beginning and end of a training session, and diminishing during the session. As the injury goes untreated, however, the pain continues during the training session and eventually reaches a point where it interferes with activities of daily living. Other than pain, the following are also symptoms to bear in mind:

  • For acute cases, there is swelling and build-up of fluid in the region. When touched, tenderness is greatest 2-6cm above the point of insertion for the tendon.
  • For chronic cases, pain is exercise induced (as described above) with excessive fluid production and popping sensation after an activity.
  • Unable to bear weight on injured area

 

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Achilles tendinopathy is usually based on a clinical examination and history of the injury. An example of a specific test utilized to find defects in the Achilles tendon is the Simmonds or Thompson test, where the calf is squeezed as the patient lies face down with the feet hanging off the edge of the bed. If there is no movement of the foot, this indicates rupture of the tendons.

Imaging techniques can be used to verify clinical findings as well as exclude other possible disorders. The ultrasonography is commonly used, due to its availability, rapidness and cost effectiveness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), however, is the gold standard.

 

Treatment

Early treatment gives the best outcome, and conservative treatment can be employed at this stage. Activity modification is key, with reduced intensity and frequency, but complete rest can be detrimental. That is because tendon loading actually stimulates repair and remodelling.

Cryotherapy can be helpful in alleviating the symptoms, including pain relief. Therapeutic ultrasound is another means of intervention that can help with collagen healing.

Stretching and strengthening can help restore tissue elasticity and preserve muscle-tendon function, reduce strain on the tendon and restore ankle joint mobility. Eccentric muscle training has also shown promising results in decreasing the pain in chronic cases.

In 24-45% of patients surgical intervention has to be considered due to failed results from conservative treatment. Currently, there is no conclusive evidence on which treatment regimen (that is, whether it is conservative or surgical) is superior.

 


 
SOURCES

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