Assess & Address: Achilles Tendinosis by Whitney Lowe

Pathology Assessment & Evaluation Treatment Massage Techniques

Traditional methods of treatment
The most important factor in treating tendinosis or peritenonitis disorders is to reduce the offending factors that caused the tendon degeneration to begin with. This requires changes in activity, training surfaces, shoes, or any other biomechanical factors that have led to the pathology. Orthotics, such as heel lifts, are sometimes used to reduce the biomechanical stress on the tendon. Ice applications appear helpful for both peritenonitis and tendinosis. If fluoroquinolones are suspected as a cause of the tendinosis they are usually changed or eliminated altogether.

Stretching is commonly used along with activity modification to reduce tension on the triceps surae complex. If the condition involves peritenonitis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are sometimes used. However, if there is no peritenonitis and only the collagen degeneration of tendinosis, these medications will be of limited benefit. For many years, this condition was thought to be exclusively an inflammatory problem, and corticosteroid injections were used to treat it. However, that practice is no longer common because corticosteroids have detrimental effects on the collagen structure and frequently lead to complete tendon rupture.

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