Achilles Tendinopathy Canberra.

What the evidence says.

Achilles tendinopathy is a loading problem, and the fix is loading done right. Decades of research, from the original heavy eccentric protocols through to modern heavy slow resistance work, agree on the core principle: tendons adapt to progressive load and get worse with complete rest. Injections and passive treatments have consistently underperformed structured loading in trials. The catch is that the loading has to be dosed, progressed and adjusted to symptoms, which is exactly the part people find hard alone.

How I treat it.

First we work out which tendon problem you actually have, midportion or insertional matters, because it changes the exercises, and what your calf and hip are contributing, because the tendon rarely fails in isolation. Then a progressive loading program: isometrics for pain relief where needed, heavy slow resistance as the backbone, and a staged return to walking volume, running or sport with clear rules for what soreness is acceptable.

Hands on calf work happens in the same session where it helps, and I keep an objective score on your progress, single leg heel raise capacity, pain with hopping, morning stiffness, so we both know it is working.

What we aim for.

• Morning stiffness and start up pain fading within weeks
• Calf capacity rebuilt and measured, both sides compared
• A graded return to running or sport that sticks
• A tendon that tolerates life without flaring every second week