Achilles Pain – Vida Integrated Health
One of the most common injuries we see at Vida involves the Achilles tendon. The largest tendon in our body, it’s that thick band of tissue stretching from our heel to our calf muscle. This tendon enables you to perform any activity which involves pushing off with your foot or pointing your foot downward, from going up the stairs to sprinting down a football field.
Injuries to this tendon can affect anyone- from professional athletes to your neighbor. It tends to be common in activities that require a lot of pivoting, speeding up or slowing down such as dancing, tennis, football, basketball and most other sports. It can also happen to anyone who tries to increase their activity level too quickly.
Because it’s such a large tendon, the severity of the injury can have a major impact on recovery time. This is why it’s so important to pay attention to any type of pain or discomfort in this area. Stiffness and soreness with a burning sensation may mean a mild to moderate injury, similar to a sprained ankle. This type of injury may simply require a few weeks to a month or 2 in order to heal. However, if left untreated, it can result in a severe injury, where the Achilles is torn or even completely ruptured. A severe injury can take anywhere from 6 months or longer to heal completely.
Whether you’re training for the Washington State Open, or just have a busy lifestyle and household that can’t wait, an Achilles injury can be immobilizing and extremely frustrating. At Vida Integrated Health, our lineup of specialists has 2 goals:
- To get you back on your feet as quickly and safely as possible
- To help you prevent this type of injury in the future
The timing and method of rehabbing an Achilles injury is crucial. Too much too soon, or too little too late can have a dramatic effect on the long-term effects of your recovery, which can have a major impact on the quality of your life going forward.
At Vida, you’ll experience a unique approach that safely maximizes healing in the shortest amount of time. You’ll have a rehabilitation expert with you every step of the way.
Our blend of active and passive techniques will restore your injury to optimal health, and help your entire body balance its recovery along the way.
Chris Soterakopoulos, Director of of Physical Therapy
Vida Integrated Health
Email me: chris@thinkvida.com
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