Achilles Tendinopathy Treatment in Joondalup: Relief for Heel and Calf Pain
A loading based rehab program, supported by hands on treatment and cold laser, is the evidence backed way to work through Achilles pain and get back to running.
What Is Achilles Tendinopathy?
Achilles tendinopathy causes a nagging ache or stiffness in the tendon at the back of the heel, often worse first thing in the morning or after a run.
We see it regularly in runners and weekend athletes across Joondalup, Currambine and Wanneroo, particularly when training load has increased quickly.
The Achilles tendon connects your calf muscles to your heel bone and takes an enormous amount of load every time you walk, run or push off the ground. Tendinopathy develops when this load outpaces the tendon’s capacity to adapt, leading to changes in the tendon tissue itself. It can affect the middle portion of the tendon or the point where it attaches to the heel bone, known as insertional tendinopathy, and the two respond a little differently to loading exercise, which is why an accurate assessment matters before starting a rehab program.
Symptoms of Achilles Tendinopathy
- Pain or stiffness in the Achilles tendon, often worst with the first steps in the morning
- Pain that eases as the tendon warms up, then returns after activity
- Tenderness when pinching or pressing the tendon
- Thickening or swelling along the tendon in more established cases
- Pain that’s aggravated by running, hill work or a sudden increase in activity
What Causes Achilles Tendinopathy
- A rapid increase in running distance, hill training or sprinting
- Tight or weak calf muscles, which increase strain through the tendon
- A sudden return to activity after time off
- Poorly fitting or worn out footwear
- Biomechanical factors such as overpronation, which change the load through the tendon
What the Research Shows
Eccentric style loading exercise outperforms other forms of exercise for this condition.
A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis by Prudêncio et al. (2023) found that eccentric exercise produced a significantly greater improvement in pain than other exercise types for mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy, supporting it as the foundation of an effective rehab program.
How We Can Help
Because loading the tendon correctly is central to recovery, treatment is built around a structured rehab program supported by hands on care.
This might include:
A staged eccentric loading program for the calf and Achilles, adjusted depending on whether the pain is mid tendon or at the heel insertion, in line with the strongest evidence for this condition.
A low-load treatment option that can help manage pain around the tendon without adding to the load it’s already under, particularly useful in the early, more painful stages.
Read more about cold laser at our new website Cold Laser Perth .
Hands on work to the calf muscles to reduce tension and improve the tendon’s ability to tolerate load.
Used to address tight, overworked calf muscles that increase tension through the Achilles tendon.
Taping to help manage load and discomfort through the tendon during a graded return to running.
References
- Prudêncio DA, Maffulli N, Migliorini F, Serafim TT, Nunes LF, Sanada LS, Okubo R. Eccentric exercise is more effective than other exercises in the treatment of mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2023;15(1):9. PMID 36698184
Disclaimer: This page is intended as general information only and does not replace individual assessment and advice from a qualified health professional. If you're dealing with pain or stiffness in your Achilles tendon, book an appointment with our team so we can assess your specific situation and recommend an appropriate treatment plan.
Location Details
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Sunday | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Monday | 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Thursday | 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Friday | 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Saturday | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
