Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles tendonitis accounts for around 13% of running injuries. The Achilles tendon is the large tendon at the back of the ankle. This Tendon connects the calf muscles (Gastrocnemius and Soleus) to the heal bone (calcaneus) and provides the power and drive in the push off phase of the gait cycle. The Achilles tendon can become inflamed through overuse as well as a number of other factors. Achilles tendonitis may be acute or chronic. Acute Achilles tendonitis is a result of overuse.

Achilles tendonitis symptoms include:

• Acute inflammation
• Achilles Tendonitis pain may increase gradually during exercise. Swelling may appear over the Achilles tendon.
• Redness may appear over the skin in the area of the tendonitis.
• You may feel a cracking or creaking sensation when you press your fingers into the tendon while moving the foot.
• Chronic Achilles tendonitis will often follow on from acute Achilles tendonitis if the acute tendon injury is not treated properly and given time to heal. Chronic Achilles tendonitis is a difficult condition to treat. The pain experienced during the acute phase of the injury may well disappear after a warm session, and may return when training has stopped.

Symptoms for chronic Achilles Tendonitis are similar to those of acute tendonitis as well as:

• Stiffness and pain in the Achilles tendon are especially noticeable in the morning. This pain may be described has none specific or generalized pain of the area.
• Nodules or lumps may appear in the Achilles tendon, 2cm above the heel.
• Tendon pain may appear when walking up a hill or incline.
• Chronic tendinitis differs from acute tendinitis in that it is a much more of a long term problem.

Causes of Achilles Tendonitis

An Overuse are the main factor and the basic cause of this injury, however other factors can make an overuse injury more likely.

Running up inclines and hills will mean the Achilles tendon has to stretch more than normal. This exasperates and worsens this condition.

Overpronation, meaning feet which roll in, will place an increased strain on the Achilles tendon. As the foot rolls in and (flattens) the lower leg rotates inwards which then twists the Achilles tendon placing torsion stress along the length of the Achilles tendon.

Treatment of Achilles Tendonitis

Rest and apply cold therapy or ice (not directly onto the skin). Wearing a heel pad, as a temporary measure, to raise the heel and take the strain off the Achilles tendon. Rest while the Achilles tendon is healing..

Sports Injuries;

Neck Back and Lower Back Pain, Shoulder Pain Injuries Rotator cuff Tears. Strains,Muscles, Ligaments, Tendons.  Hip Pain injuries, Bursitis, Tendonitis, Knee Pain, injuries and Conditions, Ankle and Foot Pain, Plantar Fasciitis, Achilles Tendonitis,                 

Physiotherapy management of sports injuries often includes widely used physical therapies such as ice, Cold laser therapy to reduce swelling and inflammation, or electronic muscle stimulation for muscle strains and spasms. Cold Laser Therapy is used by nearly all sports professionals such as Chelsea Football Club and Manchester United, track and field athletes.

Cold or Low Level Laser Therapy/Treatment

The lasers used at Central Chiropractic Physiotherapy Clinic are certified as Cold Laser.  For the past 30 years the technology of Cold Laser Therapy (also known as Low Level Laser Therapy) has been formally accepted in North America and in many other parts of the world such as Europe, Russia and Japan.  In all this time there have been no recorded long-term adverse effects from low level laser therapy.  It is considered to be non-invasive, painless and safe.

Cold Laser Therapy uses laser light energy to stimulate cells to function optimally.  In the body, light sensitive chromophores and other elements within the cell absorb energy, initiating a series of important photochemical changes such as increased production of ATP. The mitochondria and Kreb’s Cycle stimulation initiates the production of ATP, providing the cell with the extra energy needed to accelerate the healing process and positively influence pain.  These activities can occur in all types of cells and includes ligament, nerves, cartilage and muscle.

Low Level Cold Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a Handheld, non-invasive, light-emitting medical device which is used over different areas of the body. It provides an unmatched advantage in the treatment of conditions such as;

Athletic and sports injuries. Cold laser therapy, accelerating the healing process.

Soft Tissue Injuries including Fractures, Sprains and Strains, Tendonitis, conditions and disorders.

Chronic Back and Neck Pain. Upper and Lower Back Pain. Sciatica 

Disc Injuries. Slipped discs, Prolapsed discs, Herniated discs, Bulging discs.

Shoulder Pain Injuries. Biceps, Triceps, Muscle Tears, Rotator Cuff Tears ect

Knee Pain. Ligaments, Runners Knee, Bursitis, conditions and disorders.

Hip Pain, Sacroiliac Joint inflammation

Ankle, Foot and Heel Pain and injuries

Achilles tendonitis,

Plantar Fasciitis

Trapped nerve.

“Whiplash” Neck Pain and injury

Tendons, Ligaments Tendons and Fractures

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Muscle Spasm, Relief of Muscle and Joint Pain

Skin infections, including cold sores
Wound Management; including Skin Ulcers, Pressure Sores and Burns
Soft Tissue Injuries; including Sprains and Strains, Tendonitis and Haematomas
Joint Disorders; including Arthritic Pain Relief and Tenosynovitis

Chronic pain; such as Trigeminal Neuralgia and Chronic Neck and Back pain.

Also available are 32 3D animated educational videos for various back related Sports Injury and conditions such as (1) Sciatica (2) Degenerative disc (3) Herniated disc (4) Facet Joints (5) Scoliosis (6) Kyphosis Posture (7) Back Neck and Pain Decompression  (they can be found under the listing ”Types of Pain” in our “Back Pain” Section).    

For the management pain and a Sports Injury at Central Chiropractic and Physiotherapy Sports Injury Clinic, we use the latest Low Level Lasers which accelerate the recovery and healing process, leading to a significant reduction in pain inflammation. A 5 star rating has been awarded to Low Level Laser Therapy, our laser section can be found listed under ”Pain Relief”, please also view our  ”Low level Laser Testimonial Video”.    

Sports Injury  

 Soft Tissue Injuries. Cold or low laser therapy for pain relief and recovery for Ligaments, Muscle Tears and Sprains, Nerves, Tendonitis, Neck Back, Shoulders, Biceps, Triceps and Knee, Hip, Foot.  

The Cold Lasers (LLLT) used at Central Chiropractic Clinic are certified as Cold Laser.  For the past 30 years the technology of Cold Laser Therapy (also known as Low Level Laser Therapy) has been formally accepted in North America and in many other parts of the world such as Europe, including Russia and Japan.  In all this time there have been no recorded long-term adverse effects from its use.  It is considered to be non-invasive, painless and safe. 

Cold or Low Level Laser Therapyuses laser light energy to stimulate cells to function optimally.  Cold Laser Therapy is similar to photosynthesis in plants; sunlight is absorbed by the plant and converted into energy the plant can utilize for growth.  In the body light sensitive chromophores and other elements within the cell absorb energy, initiating a series of important photochemical changes such as increased production of nitric oxide, singlet oxygen and ATP, as well as, an increase in the cell membrane’s permeability.  The mitochondria and Kreb’s Cycle stimulation initiates the production of ATP, providing the cell with the extra energy needed to accelerate the healing process and positively influence pain.  The additional energy and effects result in normalization of the cell function when cell function is impaired.  These activities can occur in all types of cells and includes ligament, nerves, cartilage, and muscle. 

Cold or Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a Handheld, non invasive, light-emitting medical device which is used over different areas of the body. It provides an unmatched advantage in the treatment of conditions such as: 

Athletic and sports injuries 

Soft Tissue Injuriesincluding Fractures, Sprains and Strains, Tendonitis, conditions and disorder 

Shoulders, Biceps, Triceps, Muscle Tears, Rotator Cuff injuries. 

Knee, ligaments, Runners Knee, Bursitis, conditions and disorders 

Hip Pain, Sacroiliac Joint inflammation 

Foot, Heel Ankle Pain and injuries 

Achilles tendonitis, 

Plantar Fasciitis 

Back pain, Lower back pain 

Slipped disc, Prolapsed disc, Herniated disc,  

Trapped nerve. 

Sacroiliac Joint inflammation  

Whiplash (WAD), Neck Pain and injury 

Athletic Injuries 

Lower Back Pain
Knee, Heel and Foot Pain
Shoulder Injury
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Arthritic pain relief 

Muscle Spasm and Relief of Muscle and Joint Pain 

Skin infections 

Wound Management including Skin Ulcers, Pressure Sores and Burns 

Soft Tissue Injuries including Sprains and Strains, Tendonitis and Haematomas 

Joint Disorders including Arthritic pain relief and Tenosynovitis 

Chronic pain such as Trigeminal Neuralgia and Chronic Neck and Back pain. 

Also available listed under “Types of Pain” are 3D animated educational videos for various related Sports Injuries and conditions and diseases, for the Head, Back, Neck, Shoulder, Arm, Hip, Leg, Knee, Ankle and Foot Pain” in thier own named Pain  Sections. the following are just a few examples  (1) Sciatica (2) Degenerative disc (3) Herniated disc (4) Facet Joints (5) Scoliosis (6) Kyphosis Posture (7) Back Neck and Pain Decompression. The rest can be found our under the listing ”Types of Pain”

For the management of pain for a Sports Injury here at the Coventry Central Chiropractic  and Physiotherapy Sports Injury Clinic, we use the latest Low Level Lasers which accelerate the recovery and healing process, leading to a significant reduction in pain inflammation.  A 5 star rating has been awarded to Low Level Laser Therapy, our laser section can be found listed under ”Pain Relief”, please also view our  ”Low level Laser Testimonial Video”.    

Sports Injury 

Runner’s Knee

Runner’s Knee is the common term for Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome. Runner’s Knee is a painful overuse knee injury that affects the outer part of the knee. It is common in runners and cyclists. It affects around 5% of all runners, while knee injuries in cyclists 20% are diagnosed as Runner’s Knee.

Runner’s Knee to understand this condition its necessary to be familiar with the anatomy of the outer side of the thigh and knee. The Ilio Tibial Band is a tough length of fascia that attaches to the outer side of the pelvis (The Ilium), goes down the outer side of the thigh and inserts into the outer side of the shin bone (Tibia). The Ilio Tibial Band forms a length of taught fibrous tissue that connects the hip and knee.

The Lateral Epicondyle is a bony prominence that is the widest point of the thigh bone. When the knee is straight the Ilio Tibial Band is in front of the Lateral Epicondyle of the thigh bone and when the knee is fully bent the ITB is behind the Lateral Epicondyle of the thigh bone. During movements of the knee, the Ilio Tibial Band moves over the Lateral Epicondyle of the thigh, with maximum friction at 30 degrees of knee bend.

During activities such as running and cycling, where there is repeated bending and straightening of the knee joint, the Ilio Tibial Band can ‘impinge’ upon the Lateral Epicondyle and the resultant friction can lead to inflammation of the tissues. If the Ilio Tibial Band is tight then the degree of friction is increased and a tight Ilio Tibial Band can predispose people to Runner’s Knee.

Between the Ilio Tibial Band and the thigh there is a sac of fluid, called a bursa, which is meant to prevent friction. However, where there are repeated knee bending movements with a tight Ilio Tibial Band, the bursa can become impinged between the Ilio Tibial Band and the Lateral Epicondyle of the thigh. The bursa itself, as well as the Ilio Tibial Band, can become inflamed and painful.

Runner’s Knee Symptoms

Typically there is pain located on the outer side of the knee joint. This pain may radiate up the thigh or down the outer side of the shin and is exacerbated by running or cycling activities. Usually, the pain from Runner’s Knee is only present during activity and settles when the person rests. However, in some cases it can also be extremely uncomfortable going up or down stairs.

There is often severe tenderness when the Lateral Epicondyle of the thigh bone is palpated. There is usually maximum friction at the area of the Lateral Epicondyle when the knee is bent to around 30 degrees.

Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles tendonitis accounts for around 13% of running injuries. The Achilles tendon is the large tendon at the back of the ankle. This Tendon connects the calf muscles (Gastrocnemius and Soleus) to the heal bone (calcaneus) and provides the power and drive in the push off phase of the gait cycle. The Achilles tendon can become inflamed through overuse as well as a number of other factors. Achilles tendonitis may be acute or chronic. Acute Achilles tendonitis is a result of overuse.

Achilles Tendonitis the Symptoms

Achilles tendonitis symptoms include:

• Acute inflammation
• Achilles Tendonitis pain may increase gradually during exercise. l Swelling may appear over the Achilles tendon.
• Redness may appear over the skin in the area of the tendonitis.
• You may feel a cracking or creaking sensation when you press your fingers into the tendon while moving the foot.
• Chronic Achilles tendonitis will often follow on from acute Achilles tendonitis if the acute tendon injury is not treated properly and given time to heal. Chronic Achilles tendonitis is a difficult condition to treat. The pain experienced during the acute phase of the injury may well disappear after a warm session, and may return when training has stopped.

Symptoms for chronic Achilles Tendonitis are similar to those of acute tendonitis as well as:

• Stiffness and pain in the Achilles tendon are especially noticeable in the morning. This pain may be described has none specific or generalized pain of the area.
• Nodules or lumps may appear in the Achilles tendon, 2cm above the heel.
• Tendon pain may appear when walking up a hill or incline.
• Chronic tendonitis differs from acute tendonitis in that it is a much more of a long term problem.

Causes of Achilles Tendinitis

An Overuse are the main factor and the basic cause of this injury, however other factors can make an overuse injury more likely.

Running up inclines and hills will mean the Achilles tendon has to stretch more than normal. This exasperates and worsens this condition.

Overpronation, meaning feet which roll in, will place an increased strain on the Achilles tendon. As the foot rolls in and (flattens) the lower leg rotates inwards which then twists the Achilles tendon placing torsion stress along the length of the Achilles tendon.

Treatment of Achilles Tendonitis

Rest and apply cold therapy or ice (not directly onto the skin).

Wearing a heel pad, as a temporary measure, to raise the heel and take the strain off the Achilles tendon. Rest while the Achilles tendon is healing.

Plantar Fasciitis .

 A common cause of heel pain in adults. A classic sign is pain that is particularly severe when the first steps are taken in the morning. Plantar Fasciitis is a self-limited condition, however many people can suffer with this problem for years. The symptoms usually resolve more quickly when the time between the onset of symptoms and the start of treatment is short. There are many treatment options including Cold laser therapy rest stretching, strengthening, orthotics and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Pain is usually caused by collagen degeneration at the origin of the plantar fascia at the medial tubercle of the calcaneus. The cause of the degeneration is repetitive micro tears of the plantar fascia that overbears the body’s ability to repair itself. Cold laser therapy has become a major player in helping the body’s ability to repair itself quicker.

Although the classic sign of Plantar Fasciitis is early morning pain, not every patient will have these symptoms.  Symptoms vary from person to person, however the majority will notice pain at the beginning of activity which lessens as they warm up. Plantar Fasciitis pain may also occur with prolonged standing. In severe cases, the pain will increase towards the end of the day.

The Plantar Fascia is a thickened fibrous aponeurosis that originates from the medial tubercle of the calcaneus and runs forward to form the longitudinal foot arch. The function of the Plantar Fascia is to provide static support of the longitudinal arch and shock absorption. Individuals with pes planus (flat feet) or pes cavus (high arches) are at increased risk of suffering Plantar Fasciitis. 

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis 

A history of an increase in weight-bearing activities is common, especially those involving running, which causes micro trauma to the plantar fascia that exceeds the body’s capacity to recover. Plantar Fasciitis also occurs in elderly. In these patients, the problem is usually more biomechanical, often related to decrease in strength of intrinsic muscle.

As mentioned above, people with faulty foot biomechanics are also at risk of developing Plantar Fasciitis. A large percentage of the population will over-pronate (i.e. the foot rolls inward when they walk) which overstretches the plantar fascia and causes irritation.

On examination, the patient usually has a point of maximal tenderness just under the front aspect of heel bone and on the sole of the foot. The pain may be worsened by having the patient stand on the tips of the toes.

Plantar Fasciitis is often called “heel spurs,” although this terminology is somewhat misleading because 15 to 25 percent of the general population has heel spurs, without any symptoms and many symptomatic individuals do not have them. 

In general, Plantar Fasciitis is a self-limiting condition meaning it would resolve by itself usually within 6 to 18 months. Suffering for such a long time can lead to

Frustration for patients and Doctors.

Stretching and Strengthening

Stretching and strengthening programs address risk factors such as tightness of the gastrosoleus complex and weakness of the intrinsic foot muscles. Increasing flexibility of the calf muscles is particularly important. Frequently used stretching techniques include wall stretches and curb or stair stretches.

Other effective techniques include placing a two-inch 3 four-inch piece of wood in the areas where the patient stands for a prolonged time (workplaces, kitchen or stoves) to use in stretching the calf. Dynamic stretches such as rolling the foot arch over a can or a tennis ball are also useful. Cross-friction massage above the plantar fascia and towel stretching may be done before getting out of bed. 

Exercises such as picking up marbles and coins with the toes are also useful. Towel curl involves pulling the towel toward the body by curling the towel with the toes while sitting with the foot flat on the end of a towel placed on a smooth surface. Toe taps involve lifting all toes off the floor and, keeping the heel on the floor and the outside four toes in the air, the big toe is tapped to the floor repetitively. Next, the process is reversed, and the outside four toes are repetitively tapped to the floor while keeping the big toe in the air.

Shoes

Wearing shoes with thicker, well-cushioned arch supports decreases the pain associated with long periods of walking or standing. Thus, simply getting a new pair of shoes may be helpful in decreasing pain as studies have shown that with age, running shoes lose a significant portion of their shock absorption.

Some 14 percent of patients with Plantar Fasciitis stated that change of shoes was the treatment that worked best for them.

Orthotics and Arch Supports

The three most commonly used mechanical corrections are arch taping, over-the-counter arch supports and custom made orthotics.

Arch taping can be used as definitive treatment or as a trial to determine if the expense of arch supports or orthotics is worth per suing. Taping may be more cost effective in cases of acute plantar fasciitis while over-the-counter arch supports and orthotics may be more cost-effective for chronic or recurrent cases of plantar fasciitis and for prevention of injuries.

Over-the-counter arch supports are highly variable and depend on the material used to make them. In general, patients should try to find the densest material that is soft enough to be comfortable to walk on. Over-the-counter arch supports are especially useful in the treatment of adolescents where rapid foot growth may require a new pair of arch supports once or more per season.

Custom made orthotics are usually made by taking a plaster cast or an impression of the individuals foot and then constructing an insert specifically designed to control biomechanical risk factors such as pes planus, valgus heel alignment and discrepancies in leg length. The main disadvantage of orthotics is the cost, which may range from £50 to £200 or more. However, the strong advantages of orthotics are that they are made specifically to match your individual foot, Similar to having a prescription for glasses. You wouldn’t want to wear someone else’s glasses! Although the initial cost is more than an over the counter pair, they are more cost-effective as they will last longer. Orthotics are also an excellent corrective treatment.

Corticosteroid Injections

Corticosteroid injections have the greatest benefit if administered early in the course of treatment but, because of the associated risks, they are usually reserved for treatment resistant cases.

Potential risks include rupture of the plantar fascia and fat pad atrophy. Rupture of the plantar fascia was present in almost 10 percent of patients after plantar fascia injection. Long-term consequences of plantar fascia rupture were found in approximately one half of the patients with plantar fascia rupture. On the other hand, another study found that most individuals with rupture of the plantar fascia had resolution of symptoms with rest and rehabilitation.

.

Also available are 32 3D animated educational videos for various back related Sports Injury and conditions such as (1) Sciatica (2) Degenerative disc (3) Herniated disc (4) Facet Joints (5) Scoliosis (6) Kyphosis Posture (7) Back Neck and Pain Decompression  (they can be found under the listing ”Types of Pain” in our “Back Pain” Section).    

For pain management and a Sports Injury at Central Chiropractic and Physiotherapy Sports Injury Clinic, we use the latest Low Level Lasers which accelerate the recovery and healing process, leading to a significant reduction in pain inflammation. A 5 star rating has been awarded to Low Level Laser Therapy, our laser section can be found listed under ”Pain Relief”, please also view our  ”Low level Laser Testimonial Video”. 

Sports Injury Clinic

Sporting super stars, such as Tiger Woods, Arnold Schwazenegger, David Beckham,   Ruud Van Nistelroy, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield as well as professional tennis, track and field athletes and Formula 1, football clubs such as A.C. Milan employ chiropractors who are able to improve and enhance sports performance.

It’s estimated that in excess of 92% of all world-class athletes use Chiropractic care to prevent injuries and to increase their performance potential.

Chiropractic addresses the function of central nervous system which is the “master system” of the body controlling ad regulating function of all other subsystems including musculoskeletal system. Properly aligned skeletal system would improve performance and reduces the risk of injury and improve healing of existing injuries.

Chiropractors specialize in the non-drug treatment of musculoskeletal problems, including joint sprains and disc injuries. To some extent, the chiropractic approach to sports injuries is similar to that of traditional medical care.

Usually chiropractor’s initial examination would include standard orthopaedic and neurological tests to diagnose whether a particular pain is due to a strain, sprain, or disc problem. Digital X-ray examination is also performed to screen for fractures and other bone disorders, such as osteoporosis.

Chiropractic management of sports injuries often includes widely used physical therapies such as ice, Cold laser therapy to reduce swelling and inflammation, or electronic muscle stimulation for muscle strains and spasms.  

The Importance of Restoring Structural Body Balance.

Chiropractic management of sport injuries has an emphasis on adjustment and improving function of spinal and other joints through manipulation as well as restoring overall structural balance of the body. Chiropractor assess the effect of the muscle injury on the rest of the body as it would cause tightening of other muscle and joints in order to maintain general balance. Chiropractic adjustments help to restore the natural balance that was present before the injury.

Cold or Low Level Laser Therapy

The lasers used at Central Chiropractic Clinic are certified as Cold Laser.  For the past 30 years the technology of Cold Laser Therapy (also known as Low Level Laser Therapy) has been formally accepted in North America and in many other parts of the world such as Europe, Russia and Japan.  In all this time there have been no recorded long-term adverse effects from low level laser therapy.  It is considered to be non-invasive, painless and safe.

Cold or Low Level Laser Therapy uses laser light energy to stimulate cells to function optimally.  In the body, light sensitive chromophores and other elements within the cell absorb energy, initiating a series of important photochemical changes such as increased production of ATP. The mitochondria and Kreb’s Cycle stimulation initiates the production of ATP, providing the cell with the extra energy needed to accelerate the healing process and positively influence pain.  These activities can occur in all types of cells and includes ligament, nerves, cartilage and muscle. 

Cold or Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a Handheld, non-invasive, light-emitting medical device which is used over different areas of the body. It provides an unmatched advantage in the treatment of conditions such as;

Athletic and sports injuries,

Sports Injury Clinic

Cold/Low Level Laser Treatment for Soft tissue injuries, and used by David Beckham,  Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, A.C. Milan and Chelsea football club all use  Cold/Low Level Laser Therapy, 

Sporting super stars, such as Tiger Woods, Arnold Schwazenegger, David Beckham,   Ruud Van Nistelroy, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield as well as professional tennis, track and field athletes and Formula 1, football clubs such as A.C. Milan employ chiropractors who are able to improve and enhance sports performance.

It’s estimated that in excess of 92% of all world-class athletes use Chiropractic care to prevent injuries and to increase their performance potential. 

Chiropractic addresses the function of central nervous system which is the “master system” of the body controlling ad regulating function of all other subsystems including musculoskeletal system. Properly aligned skeletal system would improve performance, reduce the risk of injury and improve healing of existing injuries. Chiropractors specialize in the non-drug treatment of musculoskeletal problems, including joint sprains and disc injuries. To some extent, the chiropractic approach to sports injuries is similar to that of traditional medical care. Usually chiropractor’s initial examination would include standard orthopaedic and neurological tests to diagnose whether a particular pain is due to a strain, sprain, or disc problem. X-ray examination is also performed to screen for fractures and other bone disorders, such as osteoporosis.   Chiropractic management of sports injuries often includes widely used physical therapies such as ice, Cold laser therapy to reduce swelling and inflammation, or electronic muscle stimulation for muscle strains and spasms.  

Importance of Restoring Structural Body Balance.

Chiropractic management of sport injuries has an emphasis on adjustment and improving function of spinal and other joints through manipulation as well as restoring overall structural balance of the body. Chiropractor assess the effect of the muscle injury on the rest of the body as it would cause tightening of other muscle and joints in order to maintain general balance. Chiropractic adjustments help to restore the natural balance that was present before the injury.