achilles tendon tear

[- lola is lovestoned x3]

I have a client that has what I think is a 2or 3 years old achilles tendon tear. I have worked using cross-fiber and recently using Michael Young's streches but the pain is still there.
When I ask her to extend the foot, she can do it, but the gastroc remains flacid, so I think there was at least a partial tear.

What are the options for this client? Is there a way to avoid surgery to re-attach the tendon?

Has anyone had any experience with this?
Thanks

 

[lightspeed21]

It all depends upon the degree, being how badly it is torn and that needs to be done using an MRI. At this point, scar tissue and adhesions have formed to compensate, again it depends upon how badly it is torn. I would say that if she is still having the issues that she has right now, surgery would be the best bet.

 

[Clare [:]

Thanks for the reply.

Have you dealt with this issue before? Is this surgery a hard one to go through and/or recover?

Is there anything that can be done to minimize what needs to be done surgically?

Sorry for all the questions, I just would like to be as effective as I can...

 

[O.J. Mayo]

They definitely need to consult an orthopedist, and be referred to physical therapy to help strenghten both the gastroc and soleus. If they have already been through that route, then yes, they need surgery. I should have stated that in my first post.

I have had a few passing clients that have had it done and have been fine afterwards... no one that was long standing, otherwise I would have more info for you.

 

[fantabulousfatima]

i currently have a client with a torn soleus. he got an MRI and is seeing a physical therapist 2xs a week and me once a week.

 

[Part Time Cynic]

Thank you.
I sugested this client sees a doctor and once the diagnosis is clear, we go from there.

 

[Sim]

Just to add, don't feel bad you can't help too much--remember the achilles tendon has a poor blood supply so there's always problems if that tendon becomes injured.

 

[Kirstin]

Thanks for the reminder.
I tend to want to fix even the unfixable...

 

[magnumgirl]

How do you know if there is a tear? I have a client that plays tennis a lot and she comes in so I can get through the next game and I massage her archilles tendon quite deep for about 30 minutes.
Trish

 

[i<3travisclark]

I don't really know that it is torn. All I know is that when she extends her foot (points her toes), her gastroc muscle does not contract, so I'm assuming that there is at least a partial tear. But she hasn't gone to a doctor to have it diagnosed yet because she doesn't have insurance.

 

[call me David]

Can she walk on her toes only? on her heals only? alternating? on one leg, then the other? See if there is a difference.

Have her start strengthening it anyway... the easiest way is to have her start with both feet flat on the ground, and raise onto her toes. Do this 10x or as many times as she can for now, build up to doing 3 sets of 10, 3x a day. If that becomes easy for her, then have her build up to doing it standing on one leg only. Then progress to doing it on a stair, bringing her heal all the way down over the stair then raising up to being on her toes.

This is basically what she would be doing in PT, and you can find these exercises in Manual Muscle testing...

 

[Tee Tee]

thanks. I will sugest that to her.