Achilles Tendonitis: Episode 48

  • In this episode: We discuss Achilles Tendonitis

  • Chip Review: Chio – Sweet Chili & Red Pepper (13:40)

  • Trivia question of the week: Which 2 US states boarder 8 other states? (13:17)

  • Follow us on Instagram: 2pts_n_a_bagofchips and/or Twitter @2PTsNaBagOChips to see photos, video and get additional episode specific information throughout the week.

  • Thanks for listening!!

Achilles tendonitis is the topic today. Before we get to far into that here is a brief overview of the Achilles.

 

The Achilles is the largest tendon in the body, it is one of the toughest to tear. We did a whole podcast on Achilles Repair. The Achilles is the attachment for the gastrocnemius, a two joint muscle, and the soleus (one joint muscle). These muscles make up the two layers of the calf. The gastrocnemius is the fast twitch muscle and the soleous is the slow twitch. Both muscles are innervated by the tibial nerve.
The group as a whole is responsible for forced plantar flexion, also known as push-off as well as eccentric dorsi-flexion aka landing. You will see Achilles tendonitis fairly often in a few groups of individuals.
Runners are the most commonly affected group. You also see Achilles tendonitis with impact sports such as basketball, tennis, lacrosse, soccer and volleyball. There is a good deal of research that has found that increased BMI also plays a role.
Some differential diagnosis is often appropriate when given a diagnosis of Achilles tendonitis. With younger ages, people who are going through a growth spurt, you will sometimes see Sever’s Disease diagnosed as Achilles tendonitis. Sever’s is similar to Osgood-Schlatter’s disease at the heel instead of the knee. With an older population you can see calcaneal bursitis and rarely a partial Achilles tear or calf strain.
If left untreated a tendonitis can become a tendonosis. A tendonosis is much harder to treat. This is a chronic condition that is no longer in the inflammatory stage. Our recommendation with tendonitis is to treat it early and not to let it get out of hand. Physical therapy is a great tool in managing and treating Achilles tendonitis.

Check out our other podcast with similar topics:

Foot & Ankle Health with Dr. Mohammad Rimawi: Episode 40

Achilles Repair with Peter Jennings: Episode 38

Plantar Fasciitis: Episode 11

Ankle Sprain_Inversion Type: Episode 3

 

Stenosis: Episode 36

  • In this episode: Stenosis – basically it is narrowing of the spinal canal and it is quite common.

  • Chip Review: Funny-Frisch Kessel Chips Sweet Chili & Red Pepper Big Thank you to Liz Schneider for bringing these back from Germany

  • Trivia question of the week: Who was the shortest US president?

  • Follow us on Instagram: 2pts_n_a_bagofchips and/or Twitter @2PTsNaBagOChips to see photos, video and get additional episode specific information throughout the week.

  • Thanks for listening!!

Today we are going to be discussing stenosis and we will be reviewing the Funny-Frisch Kessel Chips Sweet Chili & Red Pepper. These chips have been delivered to us by Liz Schneider following her recent trip to Germany.
Stenosis, simply is narrowing of the spinal canal. Usually bone related but can be from other structures. Thickening of the ligamentum flavum is one. I just saw a great ligamentum flavum at the Museum of Technology in San Jose. They had a Body Works exhibit with Flamenco dancers. One of the dancers had her back opened and you could see the ligamentum flavum nicely.
The ligamentum flavum means yellow ligament. It runs along the inside of the spinal canal. If that thickens it will narrow the space and play a role in stenosis.
Stenosis is not a disk bulge, it is not disk degeneration, it has nothing to do with disks. Most people report Low back pain or Sciatica. The most common additional change you will see with it is a spondylolisthesis. This is when one vertebra is shifted forward of backward relative to the ones above or below it.
Sometime stenosis is referred to as shoppers’ disease. One of the classic symptoms is that you can walk for about 200 feet up to a half-mile the pain become to much and then you need a break. You will also see this as someone who has to bend or hunch over his or her shopping cart to prevent symptoms.
In almost all cases symptoms are reduced with sitting or other forms of spine flexion. This immediate reduction in symptoms is one of the tale-tale signs that someone is dealing with stenosis. This symptom pattern is known as neurogenic claudication.
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