Achilles Tendinitis
Around our community, there are many ways to enjoy the great outdoors and get yourself moving. However, injuries like Achilles tendinitis can be an unfortunate side effect. Although your Achilles may be strong, it is not indestructible.
When overused over an extended period, the Achilles tendon can become irritated, inflamed, or even torn. This leads to pain, tenderness, and stiffness in the “heel cord” at the back of the leg—especially in the morning, after activities like running or climbing stairs, or even the day after vigorous exercise.
What are the Causes of Achilles Tendinitis?
Achilles tendinitis usually is not caused by a single, obvious injury. Instead, it is caused by repetitive motions or overuse. Certain activities can strain the tendon, and if you do not give it enough rest time between activities, the wear and tear build up slowly over time.
Activities and risk factors linked with increased rates of Achilles tendinitis include:
- Sports participation. Participation in running, or other high-impact sports featuring running and jumping.
- Training choices. Suddenly increasing your activity rate a lot in a short time can greatly reduce your injury risk.
- Footwear. Wearing shoes that are worn out, ill-fitting, or not appropriate for your chosen activity.
- Age. Tendons tend to lose strength and flexibility as you get older.
- Biomechanics. Flat feet, tight calves, and other various deformities and conditions can increase strain on the Achilles tendon.
How Can I Fix My Achilles Tendinitis?
Mild cases of tendinitis can often be treated at home. Pain that does not go away or becomes severe enough to affect your day-to-day life should be examined by Dr. Mandula.
Home Care
At home, manage your condition using the RICE protocol:
- Rest. Avoid activities that stress the tendon and increase your pain.
- Ice. Use ice packs as directed to help with swelling. If making your own ice pack, remember not to touch cold surfaces directly to the skin; wrap them in a thin towel first. Do not ice for more than 20 minutes at a time.
- Compression. The use of compression wraps and bandages can reduce swelling and improve blood flow through the area.
- Elevation. Prop your feet up throughout the day to aid with swelling.
Make sure you also evaluate your footwear and training choices, and make any necessary changes to your equipment or routine before you get back to activity. With any luck, these self-care strategies may be all you need. However, if the pain persists, please come see us.
Physician Care
At Crown Foot and Ankle, we have you covered with effective treatments for Achilles tendinitis—including advanced regenerative techniques. Even if your tendinitis pain is severe, we can help you get back to full speed as quickly as possible. Potential treatment options may include:
- Physical therapy. We will teach you the exercises and stretches you need to relieve pain and re-strengthen the area around the Achilles tendon to prevent future injuries.
- Orthotics or bracing. If your Achilles tendinitis is linked to flat feet or other structural or biomechanical issues with your feet and ankles, these tools can be extremely effective for both treatment and prevention.
- Regenerative medicine. We are proud to offer state-of-the-art regenerative therapies (including EPAT and Shockwave Therapy) to bring swift relief for soft tissue injuries like Achilles tendinitis. These treatments stimulate natural healing processes in your cells and can significantly reduce the time required for healing and rehab.
Find the Relief You Need Today!
As always, we personalize every treatment to fit each patient’s unique needs. And we pride ourselves on offering the latest and greatest evidence-based treatments—you do not need to go to the big city to get advanced care. If pain in your heel cord is bothering you and keeping you from staying active, please call (219) 257-0255 today.