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Calcific Achilles tendonitis – Three types and their treatments
So, you’ve been diagnosed with “calcifications” in your Achilles tendon. But which of the three types of calcification do you have? Here’s why this matters, how to distinguish between them, and what to do about it in each case.

Maryke Louw
11 min read


Fed up with recurring Achilles pain? Here are some easy-to-fix mistakes that might be to blame
If you’re disheartened by Achilles pain that comes and goes, this article will show you how to start with the positive aspect of the situation – that you’re pain-free at times – and then sidestep the common mistakes that make people’s Achilles tendonitis flare up again.

Maryke Louw
5 min read


Avoid Achilles injuries by strengthening these running muscles
Achilles injury prevention for runners includes strengthening your muscles as high up as around your bum and hips. Learn which main muscles we use for running, how you can test whether each of them is strong enough to avoid an Achilles overuse injury, and how to strengthen those that need attention.

Alison Gould
6 min read


What the intensity of your Achilles pain means and how to use it for rehab
One of the main reasons patients consult us is the level of pain they are experiencing in their injured Achilles tendon, which in turn is stopping them from doing the activities they love. This article explores what that pain really means and how you can use it to guide you in what to do next.

Alison Gould
4 min read


Heel bursitis – Causes, symptoms, and treatment
In this article, we'll explain what causes heel bursitis, how to tell it apart from Achilles tendon injuries, and which treatments are most likely to help you recover.

Maryke Louw
11 min read


Achilles tendonitis stretching exercises – When to avoid them and why
New research shows that Achilles tendonitis stretching exercises are not really the best treatment and can even delay recovery in some cases. Learn why this is and what you can do instead to get rid of those tight calves and Achilles pain.

Alison Gould
7 min read


Extracorporeal shockwave therapy for Achilles tendonitis – Does it work?
Shockwave is often prescribed as part of the treatment for Achilles tendonitis. Learn how this works, what the research says about its usefulness, and when it might be worth giving it a go.

Maryke Louw
5 min read


Am I doing too much? How much exercise can I do with Achilles tendonitis?
“Can I exercise with my Achilles tendinopathy?” is a question many of our patients ask. If you’ve been diagnosed with Achilles tendonitis/tendinopathy, one of the trickiest things to figure out is how much activity you should actually be doing.
Many people are told to “rest”, while others try to push through their symptoms and hope for the best. In reality, the sweet spot lies somewhere in between.

Alison Gould
7 min read


Partial Achilles tendon tears – Treatment, recovery time, and when you might need surgery
Wondering how to treat a partial Achilles tendon tear and how long it will take to recover? This guide walks you through everything you need to know – from how the tendon heals and what your rehab should look like, to the vital role of inflammation and scar tissue in this process and when surgery might be on the table.

Maryke Louw
11 min read


Partial Achilles tendon ruptures or tears – Symptoms and tests
Understand what a partial Achilles tear feels like, how you can tell whether you might have one, and which tests and scans are most useful for diagnosing it.

Maryke Louw
7 min read


Shoe inserts for Sever's disease – What to look for
There are more than one type of shoe insert that can alleviate the heel pain caused by Sever's disease, and some children will benefit more from some than from others. In this article, we'll help you understand what type might help your child the most, when to use them, and for how long.

Maryke Louw
5 min read


How we treat Sever’s disease – and prevent it from coming back
Discover what treatments work best for Sever’s disease (heel pain in children), how to help the symptoms settle, and – just as importantly – how to prevent it from coming back. This guide explains the evidence-based strategies we use with our patients, with practical tips you can start applying straight away.

Maryke Louw
12 min read


Longitudinal Achilles tendon tears – What they are and how to treat them
A longitudinal tear is a lesser-known type of Achilles tendon injury where the tear runs along the length of the tendon fibres rather than across them. In this article, we explain what longitudinal Achilles tears are, how they are diagnosed, and what the treatment involves – including when conservative rehabilitation is enough and when other options might be considered.

Alison Gould
10 min read


Best shoes for Sever’s disease – How to reduce heel pain and stay active
If your child has been diagnosed with Sever’s disease, their shoes can make a big difference to their pain and can help them to stay active while the injury recovers. In this guide, we explain what features to look for, which shoes might aggravate symptoms for a while, and simple workarounds you can use without having to replace your child’s entire shoe collection.

Alison Gould
6 min read


Where isotonic exercises fit into Achilles rehab
Learn the various ways of doing isotonic calf raises and why a "one size fits all" approach is not the way to go for your Achilles rehab.

Maryke Louw
7 min read


How to maintain your Achilles tendon’s health after recovery
Learn how you can maintain Achilles tendon health after recovery, manage training load, avoid flare-ups, and ramp up your training safely.

Alison Gould
6 min read


Isometric exercises for Achilles tendon injuries – How, when, & pitfalls
Isometric exercises for Achilles injuries (whether it's Achilles tendonitis or tendon tears) are useful only in some cases. We demonstrate variations on isometric calf raises and provide guidelines on when and how they would be appropriate for Achilles injury rehab.

Alison Gould
10 min read


Stretching exercises for Sever’s disease – What to do and what to avoid
One would think that calf muscle stretches should be one of the most obvious Sever’s disease stretches, but they can actually worsen your child’s symptoms if done too early or aggressively. Learn why this is and what alternative stretches are more useful – with instructions and video demos.

Alison Gould
6 min read


Eccentric exercises (calf raises) for Achilles tendonitis – How they work and when to use them
The different types of eccentric calf raise, how they help your Achilles tendon to recover, when they’re useful, and when other exercises might be a better fit for your rehab.

Alison Gould
7 min read


What is Sever’s "disease" and what causes it?
Learn what is Sever’s disease, what causes it, and how to recognise it in your child.

Alison Gould
7 min read
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