Physiotherapists are always looking for a variety of treatments to heal numerous ailments. One of their main areas of focus is the Achilles tendon. There is no question that Achilles heel pain can be difficult to overcome. Also, before you can fully understand one of the best stretches to treat Achilles tendon pain, you must understand the Achilles heel itself.
Where is the Achilles Heel?
The Achilles heel is located at the base of the back portion of the foot just above the heel. As such, it is responsible for helping you to push off from the foot. Activities such as standing on your tiptoes, walking in high heels, or getting the right start on a foot race are all situations where you will need a strong functioning Achilles heel. Unsurprisingly, runners are aware of this muscle all too well. In a nutshell, with a problematic Achilles tendon, they cannot run which is why healing it is definitely at the top of anyone’s priorities. What can you do when your Achilles heel pain is giving you grief? Besides the stretches to be described later, having a full understanding of these and other muscles and how they get injured can go a long way as well.
How Can You Injure Your Achilles Heel?
First of all, one of the most common injuries that can occur with your Achilles tendon would be a rupture. Common to individuals who play recreational sports, this injury is not always easily detected. However, those that have gone through it noticeably report commonalities such as hearing a loud popping noise followed by severe pain in the back of the foot. After that, the injured party usually has trouble walking. Of course, it is also important to note that sometimes these injuries are not detected at all.
Of course, it is also important to fully understand the Achilles tendon and how it can play a role in a person’s ability to function. Simply put, the Achilles is comprised of a strong, fibrous cord that is connected to both your calf and your heel bone. This is why when it ruptures — either fully or in part — you are bound for some trouble. What is the worst case scenario when it breaks? The bad news is you might possibly have to see a doctor if it is the most noticeable injury. However, the good news is some individuals can correct a case of Achilles heel pain without seeing a doctor at all. How so, you might ask? Read on for some great information about how to properly treat this injury without the aid of medical attention, or to speed up your recovery in conjunction with it.
How to Treat a Torn Achilles Heel
Simply put, this dynamic exercise that many have found great healing results with is simply just a battery of crucial stretches. These stretches can provide important healing measures to you as long as you follow the step-by-step process. The first step is perhaps one of the most important ones in the entire process.
First, you must get a foam roller. Next, you will need to position yourself so that one leg, calf, and shin is fully resting upon the foam roller. What you want to do is pin your Achilles heel muscle to the foam roller and stretch it, using your other leg as a means to support yourself while you are doing it. If you can do this, you are off to a good start. However, make you do not overexert yourself, because you might make the injury worse.
The next step would be to position your right leg parallel to the roller, sit down upon it and get to work. You will only use your left hand for balance, and then you will go on to the next step. Basically, you will have to roll in a manner that will engage all of the various muscles in question. If you continue to gently stretch your Achilles in this manner with a disciplined, gentle approach, then the chances are good that you will be able to heal your damaged tendon on your own.
The reason this stretch works better than other procedures is simply that these exercises have been demonstrated to be an effective way to pin the fascia that causes the immense Achilles pain. It can put a strain on all of the muscles and tendons along your calf, and it will cause the damaged area to continue to strengthen and rebuild on a gradual basis. The key to making this practice work is patience, and simply continuing to build on your progress on a daily basis.
One of the other main disorders these stretching exercises would help you deal with is plantar fasciitis. This condition is noted for its inflammation of the heels, and many individuals go with orthotics in order to combat it. However, besides orthotics, the above stretching exercises have been found to be useful in combating this issue. This is because plantar fasciitis is self-limiting, meaning it can often go away on its own simply from the conservative roller stretch noted in this article.
To learn more about how we can help with your injured Achilles heel, contact Dynamic Physiotherapy, online or send us an email today.
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