In Greek mythology, there is a hero known as Achilles. As the story is told, Thetis, a sea nymph and daughter of the sea god Nereus, was worried about the mortality of her son. She dipped him into the River Styx, making him invulnerable except for the heel by which she held him. As Greek mythology unfolds, after a cascade of events during the Trojan War, Achilles – while avenging the death of his best friend – is shot by an arrow in his sole spot of vulnerability, the back of his leg, leading to his death. This is how we came to know the term “Achilles tendon.”
Now that you understand the mythology behind the Achilles tendon, you can imagine that since you have two legs, you also have two Achilles tendons – a right and a left. The Achilles tendon is the strong, thick tendon at the back of the lower leg, extending downward from the calf muscle to the heel bone. The calf muscle and Achilles tendon function together to help with activities that require pushing off the lower extremity and propelling your body forward. This includes walking, running, and jumping. They also help absorb body weight when slowing down, going downstairs, and maintaining balance, especially during athletic activities.
Unlike the Greek warrior Achilles, an injury to your Achilles tendon is unlikely to kill you. However, as you can imagine, a tendon involved in such frequent and important activities is very prone to injury. With a severe injury, surgical repair may be required. With chronic injury, guidance may be needed to return you to your previous activity level.
So, what should you do following an injury or surgical repair of the Achilles tendon? That is the easy part. Physical therapists are experts in musculoskeletal pathology. Most likely, after examination by your general practitioner following surgery or injury, you will be referred to a physical therapist. They are the experts who will help get you back to your sport or previous activity level.
That said, there are warning signs, and sometimes it is easier to address a problem before it progresses. Signs and symptoms of an Achilles tendon injury may include pain and stiffness in the back of the heel – especially early in the morning when you first begin weight bearing or walking – weakness, difficulty pushing off the foot (especially when accompanied by pain), or difficulty going up and especially downstairs without foot or ankle pain. If you are experiencing these symptoms, an immediate consultation with your physician or physical therapist should be scheduled to prevent further injury and disability.
Professional Rehabilitation Services is a group of physical therapist-owned private practices with offices in Pawleys Island, Murrells Inlet, Surfside Beach, Myrtle Beach, Conway, Forestbrook, Carolina Forest, Market Common, Longs, and Little River, South Carolina. We treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions using the latest evidence-based therapies provided by some of the highest credentialed physical therapists in the area. In addition to being licensed physical therapists, our providers hold specialty certifications and advanced training in orthopedics, manual therapy, sports therapy, strength and conditioning, vestibular treatment, and dry needling.
For further information on this or other related topics, you can contact any of our ten convenient locations by visiting our website at www.prsrehabservices.com, where you can learn more about the company and even download a referral form for your physician to complete. You can also call any of our offices to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your pain or dysfunction with a therapist.
