Achilles Tendon Treatment in New Jersey

That sharp pain shooting up from your heel can stop you in your tracks. Walking becomes torture, stairs feel impossible, and every step reminds you that you’ve damaged your Achilles tendon. At One Oak Medical, we see patients like you every day who struggle with Achilles tendon injuries. Our physicians help you overcome the limitations and pain of Achilles problems through advanced treatment options for all types of injuries.

We’ll help you handle those minor inflammation troubles or complete ruptures with our treatment team and offices across New Jersey.

What Is Your Achilles Tendon & Why Does It Matter?

Your Achilles tendon connects your calf muscle to your heel bone. It’s the largest and strongest tendon in your body, yet surprisingly vulnerable to injury. This critical connector handles tremendous stress, as it bears your entire body weight with each step and can withstand forces up to 12 times your weight when running or jumping.

The Achilles handles an enormous workload. Your Achilles tendon springs into action whenever you push off your foot to walk, run, jump, or climb. Over your lifetime, this workhorse tissue will handle millions of loading cycles. That’s why pain or dysfunction here affects nearly everything you do on your feet.

Many patients don’t realize how this crucial structure impacts their daily lives until they feel that first twinge of heel pain or stiffness in the morning. By then, tissue damage may already be developing, putting you at risk for chronic issues or even a devastating rupture.

Common Achilles Injuries We Treat

Your Achilles can suffer different types of injuries, each requiring specific care approaches for your recovery. Our physicians diagnose and treat all varieties of Achilles problems through physical examination, ultrasound imaging, and careful analysis of your symptoms and activity patterns. The most common issues we address include:

Achilles Tendinitis: Inflammation from overuse causes pain above your heel, especially during morning steps or after sitting.
Achilles tendinosis: Long-term degeneration of the tendon tissue, which shows up as stiffness and pain.
Insertional Achilles Pain: Inflammation and bone spurs where your tendon attaches to your heel bone.
Partial Tears: Damage to some tendon fibers, causing sharp pain and weakness.
Complete Ruptures: Full tears through the tendon, often with an audible “pop” and inability to rise on toes.

We will look at things like tissue health, inflammation levels, and how the injury impacts your range of motion and function.

Our Treatment Approach for Achilles Tendon Pain

One Oak Medical will address Achilles tendon injuries through a step-by-step process aimed at reducing pain, healing damaged tissue, and restoring your normal function. Most patients benefit from non-surgical treatments, though more severe cases may need surgical intervention.

For acute injuries, we typically start with the RICE protocol (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) to control initial inflammation and pain. From there, your treatment plan might include:

Physical Therapy: Custom exercises to restore calf muscle strength and flexibility
Heel Lifts or Orthotic Devices: Special shoe inserts to reduce stress on your tendon during healing
Boot Immobilization: For more serious injuries, keeping your foot and ankle stable while healing begins
Therapeutic Ultrasound: Sound waves to stimulate blood flow and tissue repair
Anti-inflammatory Measures: To control swelling and discomfort during recovery
Gait Analysis: To identify and correct movement patterns that might worsen your condition

We focus on addressing your symptoms and the underlying causes of your Achilles problem. Many issues stem from training errors, foot mechanics, or muscle imbalances that, when corrected, can prevent future recurrence.

Managing Chronic Achilles Tendon Problems

Chronic Achilles issues can be frustrating. You’ve tried rest, maybe even physical therapy, but that nagging heel pain persists. Chronic Achilles tendinosis happens when your tendon undergoes long-term stress, leading to actual degeneration of the tissue rather than simple inflammation. This chronic condition often results from:

Continued overuse despite early warning signs of injury
Inadequate blood flow to the “watershed” area of the tendon, where most problems occur
Biomechanical issues like flat feet or high arches put extra stress on your Achilles
Age-related changes to tendon elasticity and strength
Systemic factors like certain medications or conditions that affect tissue health

Our approach to chronic cases involves a comprehensive look at all contributing factors. We may use advanced imaging like diagnostic ultrasound to evaluate the structure of your tendon tissue and identify exactly where the degeneration has occurred. This helps us target treatment precisely where it’s needed.

For persistent cases, we might recommend specialized interventions like targeted physical therapy focusing on eccentric calf strengthening, which has shown remarkable success in stimulating healing in chronic Achilles conditions. Some patients benefit from temporarily using a splint or boot to allow more complete healing while maintaining some activity.

Ruptured Achilles Tendon Treatment & Rehabilitation

A ruptured Achilles tendon is a serious injury that requires immediate attention. That sudden “pop” followed by sharp pain and inability to push off your foot signals a complete tear through the tendon fibers. This injury dramatically affects your ability to walk, climb stairs, or participate in sports.

When you arrive with a suspected rupture, we perform a thorough physical examination, often including the Thompson test (squeezing your calf muscle to check if your foot moves as expected). We may also use diagnostic imaging to confirm the extent of the tear and plan appropriate treatment. Treatment options for Achilles ruptures include:

Non-surgical Management: Using a special boot or cast to immobilize your ankle while the tendon heals naturally
Minimally Invasive Surgery: Small incisions to repair the tendon with less scarring and faster recovery
Traditional Open Repair: For complex tears or when direct visualization of the injury is needed

Rehabilitation after an Achilles rupture follows a careful progression. Initially, we protect the healing tendon while gradually introducing gentle movement. We build strength and flexibility through customized physical therapy protocols as healing progresses. Our goal is to restore your full range of motion, strength, and function while minimizing re-injury risk.

Patients often ask about recovery timelines from Achilles injuries. While everyone heals at different rates, most people return to normal daily activities within 4-6 months, with a full return to high-impact sports typically taking 6-12 months. Throughout this journey, our team works closely with you, adjusting your rehab plan based on your progress.

Get Back on Your Feet With One Oak Medical

Achilles tendon problems can rob you of your mobility and independence. The right treatment plan makes all the difference in your recovery and return to activities you love. One Oak Medical can help patients overcome these challenging injuries every day.

We also specialize in orthopedics and foot and ankle treatments, including things like loose bodies in the ankle, via our specialists.

One Oak Medical proudly serves North Jersey and Long Island, with convenient offices in Princeton, Paramus, Wayne, Middletown, Point Pleasant, and Clifton, New Jersey. Schedule a visit with Dr. Homam Badri or Dr. Ahmad Badri for personalized care that addresses your unique Achilles tendon concerns.