Should i tape my achilles tendon

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Bathroom Safety. Bathroom Safety Shop All. Toilet Safety. Shower Chairs. Grab Bars. Bathtub Rails. Bath Steps. Cast Covers. Bathing Aids. The Achilles tendon is made up of strong tissue fibers. Its function is to ensure the proper connection of the calf muscles to the heel bone.

The strength of the Achilles tendon supplies springiness to the area above your heel by allowing you to push your toes downwards. Since the Achilles tendon is frequently used during walking or sports activities, injuries are very common. To help you know more about how you can tape your Achilles tendon, whether in case of emergency or for proper recovery, here are a few details you need to consider.

The proper name of the Achilles tendon is the calcaneal tendon. Made from tough fibrous tissue , it is where the calf muscles join together and insert into the heel bone, while a small sac of fluid called the bursae helps to protect and cushion the tendon within the heel. The Achilles tendon is both the strongest and the largest tendon in the body, thanks to the naturally robust fibers from which it is made.

The strength of the Achilles tendon is crucial, since it has to carry a lot of your body weight, especially as the calf muscles contract, while the tendon also pulls on your heel to help maintain balance and footing. The Achilles tendon allows you to stand on your toes. It stores a lot of energy each time you walk, run, or jump. The stronger your Achilles tendon, the more capable you are of jumping higher and running faster.

The tendon also stores a lot of force each time you climb stairs, cycle, swim, or undertake various other types of physical activity.

Despite its large size and inherent strength, the Achilles tendon is not resistant to damage or injury. Because it is used daily — even for routine activities — it is very susceptible to injuries such as tendonitis, tears, or ruptures.

This is why daily exercises to ensure that the tendons are properly conditioned and maintained are very important, especially as we grow older. It can happen to anyone at any time. This is especially true for individuals whose muscles have begun to weaken from overuse. A lack of proper maintenance, or simply age, can also make the tendon susceptible to injury.

An injury to the Achilles tendon is often characterized by pain and the inability to move your foot properly. Injuries to this tendon can range from mild, to moderate, to severe. Depending on the amount of damage sustained, you may find it very hard to put pressure on an injured foot. Mild to moderate pain in the area may be caused by minor damage to the Achilles tendon. Minor damage can also be characterized by stiffness in the area above the heel.

A complete tear or rupture, on the other hand, may cause a severe burning sensation. In most cases, the main culprits for Achilles tendon injury are quick foot movements and sudden pivots or twists. Some of the sports activities that increase your risk of suffering Achilles tendon injuries include the following:. It is important to remember, however, that Achilles tendon injuries are not confined to sports and other rigorous activities.

As mentioned earlier, injuries to this vital part of the body can happen when you least expect it, due to daily overuse.

Certain types of people may run a higher risk of developing injuries to their Achilles tendon, including the following:. Isotonic muscle contraction is when the 2 muscle ends get either closer together concentric or further apart eccentric. The 2nd type is Isometric exercises which is where the muscle contracts but the 2 muscle ends stay the same distance apart.

The exercise of choice for symptomatic Achilles tendinopathy stage I is Isometric 2 leg calf raises with both hands lightly supported so as to take out the balance component of the exercise. If the patient has an insertional Achilles Tendinopathy, they should only go half to three quarters range of 2 leg calf raise so as not to compress Achilles tendon against the likely Haglunds deformity. The patient will do this 2 leg Isometric calf raise until they can consistently do it well and pain free for the full 45 seconds, sets.

This is when they progress onto 1 leg isometric hold for same timescales, repetitions and height of calf raises as for the 2 leg calf isometric calf raises.

Stage II isotonic exercises: Once the patient with Achilles Tendinopathy can consistently complete stage I isometrics pain free then they can progress to stage II isotonic exercises.

Once the patient is able to perform this exercise consistently and pain free then they can be progressed onto 1 leg, stage II isotonic calf raises with the same number of reps, sets, speed and times per day. This 1 leg exercise can then be progressed to being weighted- holding one weight close to their chest with both hands but stood in corner for support rather than having fingers on wall.

Stage III — restore the spring — the energy storage and release component — Plyometrics exercise: This essentially means that the tendon becomes competent and safe at storing and then releasing the energy necessary to do springing activities such as jumping, hopping, skipping, running etc.