Insertional Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles tendonitis, also known as Achilles tendinopathy, is an overuse injury of the Achilles tendon, the band of tissue that connects the calf muscles of the leg to your heel bone.
When it occurs where the tendon meets the bone (at its “insertion”) it is called “insertional” Achilles tendonitis, which tends to be more difficult to treat with conventional treatments. This is where radiotherapy (X-ray) treatments can provide an effective alternative.
What is insertional Achilles Tendonitis?
The Achilles is the strongest tendon in the body and is used in many movements including walking, running and jumping. Although the tendon can withstand great strain, it’s prone to degeneration when overused, which results in inflammation and Achilles heel pain. When the degeneration occurs at the point where the Achilles tendon inserts into the heel bone, it’s called insertional Achilles tendonitis.
Symptoms & Causes
Insertional Achilles Tendonitis causes pain at the back of the heel. It can also cause tenderness, swelling and tenderness to touch.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Diagnosis tends to be made by a combination of history, examination and scans. Treatments can range from simple exercises to more complex surgical treatments. Radiotherapy provides an effective alternative to those who are not responding to the more simple treatments.
Radiotherapy
X-ray treatment is used to help a variety of medical conditions. In insertional Achilles tendonitis it has been shown to reduce pain in 80% of patients who have tried and failed other treatments.
