ACHILLES TENDONITIS
Achilles tendonitis is a condition in which the Achilles tendon is inflamed and painful. This can cause degeneration of the tendon. The Achilles tendon is the large tendon located in the back of the lower leg (back of the ankle) that attaches to the heel. The pain caused by Achilles tendonitis can develop gradually without a history of trauma or can be the result of injury. The pain is usually a shooting pain, burning pain, or an extremely piercing pain. Achilles tendonitis should not be left untreated because of the danger that the tendon may become weak and tear.
Achilles Tendonitis is caused by activities that repeatedly stress the tendon, causing inflammation. Sometimes even prolonged standing can cause Achilles tendonitis. It is a common problem often experienced by athletes, particularly distance runners. Due to their high level of activity and reluctance to stop or slow down their training, Achilles tendonitis is a difficult injury to treat in athletes.
People who suffer from Achilles tendonitis often complain of pain on their first steps out of bed in the morning. This pain often lessens with activity. Another similar complaint is pain with first few steps after a long period of being seated.
Causes
There are several factors that can cause Achilles tendonitis. Improper shoe selection, not enough stretching prior to athletic activities, a short Achilles tendon, injury to the tendon and heel bone deformity are all common factors. Also a sudden increase in the amount of activities performed. An example of this is beginning an exercise program and start out running 3 miles or uphill without giving your body time to adapt to the increased activity. Another common cause is over-pronation or flat feet (when the arch collapses during weight bearing). This occurs in the walking process and adds stress on the Achilles tendon.
Before exercising, individuals should stretch properly to warm-up the muscles. Decreasing the distance walked or ran, avoiding going uphill and applying ice after these activities will help. If this does not relieve the symptoms it may be helpful to stop these activities for a few weeks.
If you are experiencing any of these signs or symptoms, call today for an appointment.