Your Achilles tendon is the connecting point between your heel and your calf muscles. Every time your calf muscles contract, they pull on this tendon to help your foot point up or down. This tendon is responsible for your ability to climb, sprint, jump, run, and walk. As you grow older and overuse this tendon, it becomes susceptible to degeneration. In some cases, you may even rupture it as a result of the degeneration or an accident.

For someone who has suffered from Achilles tendon degeneration or rupturing, physical therapy is the best course of treatment. If you need physical therapy for your Achilles tendon, it is normal to wonder what to expect.

Physical Therapy Treatments

For someone who suffers from an Achilles tendon injury, the following are the most common physical therapy treatments:

Stretching and Exercising: Stretching and exercising your Achilles tendon is the key to helping the tendon heal without causing long-term pain from the injury. Rolling a tennis ball or a frozen water bottle with the arch of your foot are the two most recommended stretching exercises for this type of injury. If your foot is sore, the frozen water bottle is an ideal choice because you will also find relief from the pain thanks to the cold water bottle.  

Heat Therapy: Heat can improve your blood circulation which can help with the healing process.

Deep Foot Massage: A deep foot massage is also going to help with blood circulation. It will also help increase flexibility which can decrease your chances of hurting your tendon a second time.

Rehabilitation Will Take Time

It is important to keep in mind that rupturing your tendon completely is a serious injury. Rehabilitation is going to be a slow process that will take at least 6 to 9 months. The purpose of rehabilitation is to give your tendon a chance to heal and then restore the tendon to its normal functions after it has had a chance to heal.

When is Surgery Appropriate?

If your Achilles tendon has suffered a complete rupture, reconstructive surgery to repair the tendon by sewing the torn pieces of the tendon back together is an option. This surgery requires a surgeon to make a small incision on the back of your calf in order to reconnect your tendon. Reconstructive surgery has an 11 percent risk of complications such as infection while it does lower the chance of a rupturing the tendon again by 27 percent.

If you think you have torn or injured your Achilles tendon, it is important to seek medical care immediately. Even a task as simple as walking can be painful and hard to do with an Achilles tendon injury. Contact rehabilitation services in your area for more information.