Achilles tendonitis - can you relieve the pain?

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Achilles tendonitis - can you relieve the pain?

Monday, March 5th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

One moment you’re running and jumping with the fluid grace of a gazelle, and the next you’re hobbling around crippled with pain. Achilles tendonitis is unfortunately very common, and can strike at any age.

Achilles tendonitis Is Common to Both Professional As well As Amateur Athletes

If one is well versed with Greek mythology, one would know that Achilles was only vulnerable at his heel, and it seems this trait has been passed down to us mortal humans. The Achilles tendon is the one that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone and it is the biggest tendon in the body that is able to withstand forces of more than thousand pounds, though it is most prone to becoming ruptured.

Achilles tendonitis is common to both professional as well as amateur athletes and is common overuse injury as well as inflammation of the tendon. It may be triggered by rapidly increasing running mileage of speed that includes hill running as well as climbing of stairs in a personal training routine, beginning too early after a layoff, trauma which is a result of sudden and/or hard contraction of the calf muscles, and also overuse that is caused by a natural lack of flexibility in the muscles of the calf.

Symptoms of Achilles tendonitis and Healing

The symptoms of Achilles tendonitis can be seen in mild pain after exercising or running and which becomes worse or when there is a pronounced sense of sluggishness in the legs. It can also take the form of diffuse or localized pain that can often be severe or there may be tenderness in the morning just above the Achilles tendon or stiffness may occur that slowly fades when the tendon gets warmed up after use, and there is also some swelling.

Achilles tendonitis may seem quite similar to a partial tendon tear and also heel bursitis; so anyone suffering these symptoms should get an orthopedic surgeon to properly diagnose the condition. The treatment of Achilles tendonitis depends on the severity of the injury but one would normally need a lot of rest that may entail totally withdrawing from running or exercise for a week or so, or taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication or even may require using orthoses that are devices to help support muscles and which help in relieving stress on the tendon.

The last resort to treat Achilles tendonitis is usually surgery and may become necessary when the friction between the tendon and its covering sheath thickens as well as makes the sheath fibrous. To prevent the occurrence of Achilles tendonitis, one may take some precautionary steps such as choosing running shoes carefully, walking and stretching before running to get properly warmed up, focusing on stretching as well as strengthening the calf muscles and also avoiding unaccustomed strenuous sprinting, hill running and similar activities.

Don’t ignore the pain of Achilles tendonitis

If you’re a keen athlete, you may ben tempted to train and compete in events even if you suspect that you have Achilles tendonitis. However, if you ignore or medicate the pain away, it will become worse. Take action when the pain is mild.

[tags]Achilles tendonitis, tendonitis, pain, stiffness, inflammation, trauma, flexibility [/tags]