Most people don't know the difference between Tendonosis and Tendonitis.
The fact is, most people don't need to.
But if you suspect or know that you have Achilles Tendonitis, it is valuable for you to know the difference, because you probably have both.
Achilles Tendinitis and Tendonosis go hand in hand.
When you see the way the tendon structure is designed, and the way the body is built to support its health, this quickly begins to make sense.
Structure When compared to other tendons in the body The Achilles Tendon is a huge tendon.
The torque and load that the foot and tendon and calf muscles can handle is incredibly impressive.
Because of its powerful ability to propel us forward, we can run, jump, and stand for hours and hours.
This can also get us into trouble too.
Due to a not so efficient factor of it's design, it is prone to degenerative injury.
The tendon itself has an incredibly tough core and a softer spongier layer wrapping it.
And while muscle has direct blood supply, the tendon does not.
Meaning that it gets circulation and nutrition from fluid movement around it as opposed to blood pumped directly to and into it.
Thus the tendon constantly runs a danger of getting insufficient oxygen and other vital nutrients to the cells of the tendon.
Tendonosis Tendonosis is a process of the softer tissue around the tough tendon core not getting enough nutrition and circulation.
It's tough to tell which comes first, degeneration due to lack of nutrition or small amounts of damage from use of the tendon.
For all practical purposes just consider that they are one and the same.
Know that the tendon itself can start to degenerate due to lack of blood and nutrient delivery.
And know that this is happening long before you ever feel any discomfort.
It is a process that starts invisibly and slowly or quickly gets worse and worse, until you feel pain, and then continues to get worse while you suffer, rest, etc.
Tendonitis Tendonitis is also a process.
A progressive pattern of increasing muscles tightness, pain, constant tension on the tendon, wear and tear damage, and scar tissue being laid down in an attempt to heal the injury.
Tendonitis occurs as a spot on a tendon where there is constant pain, injury, and scar tissue build up that unfortunately is less structurally strong that the original tissue.
They go hand in hand.
Or is that foot in foot? On the Achilles Tendon, Tendonosis starts happening first, and tendonitis kicks in directly after as inflammation and scar tissue get involved.
It is valuable to know exactly what is happening in there, but realistically, the two processes are a single process.
For all intents and purposes, they are the same thing.
Without high tech equipment, it's impossible to tell the difference between the two different kinds of damage.
Specifically for the Achilles tendon, it really doesn't matter.
The treatment is the same.
You have to get Inflammation out, and new circulation in.
There's more to it, of course, but essentially that is the cure.