One of the most common issues we see at our Oakville Physio, Massage, and Foot Care (Chiropody) clinic, along with low back pain, are different types of tendon issues.

What is Tendonitis?

First let’s start with what a tendon is; A tendon is the structure that connects skeletal muscle to bone. Reach down to your calf muscle at the back of your leg and now further down to your heel. That cord-like structure just above your heel is your Achilles tendon. Tendons are made primarily of collagen. Tendons tend not to heel as quickly as muscles and bones because  the blood supply isn’t as good. Overuse is the most common cause of tendinitis, but it can also occur with a sudden stretch as a sudden (acute) injury. Tendonitis caused by repetitive strain is common in Keyboard users, people who do manual labour, and those involved in athletics.

The most common types of tendonitis include tennis elbow, golfers elbow, knee tendonitis, achilles tendonitis. Signs and symptoms of tendonitis include:

• Tenderness
• Redness
• Swelling
• Pain on Exertion

Physiotherapy and Massage can help with tendinitis by providing education for activity modification, strengthening and stretching exercises, as well as appropriate hands-on treatment. A Chiropodist can provide a thorough assessment and treatment through the use of custom orthotics for lower extremity tendonitis (such as Achilles tendonitis). Orthotics in workboots or the shoes of those who stand a lot can provide a cushioning effect as well as modify alignment issues that may feed into the problem causing the overuse.

Meet Your Muscles: Gastrocnemius

The Gastrocnemius (calf muscle). Is the strong muscle in the back of your lower leg that connects into your Achilles Tendon. This muscle helps us raise up on or toes and push off with walking and running. Having tension and tightness  in these muscles is often related to Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis. Achilles tendonitis is a common running injury as well as in people who are on their feet for much of the day.

Our Oakville Physiotherapists can help you get back to your daily tasks as well as sport after a tendinitis injury. In addition to manual treatment it it important to identify the factors leading to the tendinitis and address them to prevent a worsening or recurrence of the tendinitis.