Achilles Tendinitis – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Methods
Achilles tendinitis is a common condition that occurs when the large tendon that runs down the back of your lower leg becomes irritated and inflamed. The largest tendon in the body, the Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. A common sports injury, Achilles tendinitis occurs when this tendon becomes irritated and inflamed, causing severe pain and swelling. The injury, which can be a tear or a rupture, usually results from strenuous, high impact exercises such as running. It is common in runners who have suddenly increased the intensity or duration of their runs and people who engage in sports only during weekends. Older people may be more susceptible to this injury as the structure of this tendon weakens with age. Timely treatment at a professional pain management center in Brooklyn can prevent the injury from developing into a chronic problem.
Causes Any repeated activity that strains your Achilles tendon can potentially cause tendonitis. While excessive exercise or walking is the most common cause, other risk factors include: Wearing high heels daily or for prolonged durations Bone spurs in the back of your heels Sudden increase in physical activity without allowing your body to adjust to increased training Straining the calf muscles during repeated exercises Using incorrect or worn out shoes when running or exercising Exercising without proper warm-up Having rheumatoid arthritis and certain infections
Signs and Symptoms Typically, this overuse injury begins as mild ache in the back of the leg or above the heel after a high impact sports activity. Further episodes of more severe pain may occur after prolonged running, stair climbing or sprinting. The most common symptoms of Achilles tendinitis include – Tight calf muscles Thickening of the tendon Swelling that is present all the time and gets worse throughout the day with activity Skin on your heel overly warm to the touch Severe pain the day after exercising Limited range of motion when flexing your foot Bone spurs Tenderness or stiffness, especially in the morning
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Diagnosis and Treatment Modalities A detailed physical examination will be performed in order to determine the exact location of pain, tenderness or swelling. The flexibility, range of motion and reflexes of foot or ankle will be assessed. Imaging tests such as X-ray, MRI scan or ultrasound scan may be conducted to confirm diagnosis and check the extent of the injury to the tendon. Based on the results, the patient will be provided with a customized treatment plan. Pain management doctors in Brooklyn healthcare centers use a variety of nonsurgical modalities to treat Achilles tendon disorders.
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Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) – TENS uses low voltage electric stimulation that interacts with the sensory nervous system to address pain.
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Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications - Over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen (Aleve) may help reduce tendon inflammation, swelling and relieve pain.
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Game Ready cold compression therapy – This computer-controlled modality combines cold therapy and intermittent active compression for all types of musculoskeletal injuries and orthopedic surgery rehabilitation.
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Ice/Heat therapy – Heat application provides relaxation to muscles. Ice pack lowers muscle spasm, inflammation and swelling
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Physical therapy – Physical therapy involves specific stretching and strengthening exercises that help promote healing of the tendon and its supporting structures. Physicians also recommend the use of foot levelers orthotics devices that help relieve strain on the tendon and reduce heel pain. Inserting heel lifts in the shoe under the heel provides a cushion that lessens the amount of force exerted on your Achilles tendon.
Surgery for Achilles tendinitis will be recommended only in case of severe tendon tears.
Prevention Strategies Even though Achilles tendinitis cannot be completely prevented, the risk of developing this condition can be reduced gradually by being aware about its potential causes. Possible prevention strategies include – ➢ Combining high-impact and low-impact exercises, such as running with swimming, to reduce constant stress on the tendons ➢ Wearing proper, well-fitting shoes with proper cushioning and arch support
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➢ Increasing the intensity of your physical activity gradually ➢ Limiting certain exercises that can put excessive strain on the tendons Doing proper stretching and warm-ups before and after doing an exercise will help to keep the Achilles tendon flexible and reduce the chances of tendinitis developing.
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