Achilles Tendonitis Treatment and Prevention for Runners and other athletes

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Achilles Tendonitis Treatment and Prevention for Runners and other athletes

Monday, April 2nd, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Achilles tendonitis is a common injury among runners, as the Achilles tendon is responsible for helping you lift off the ground with each stride. Achilles tendonitis is caused by overtraining, or ramping up training too quickly.

It can also be caused by doing a lot of running on hills or hard surfaces like pavement. All runners should be aware of Achilles tendonitis and should be aware of any pain or discomfort in this area when their training intensifies.

To treat Achilles tendonitis your first step should be to reduce your mileage. If you continue to run on an injury like Achilles tendonitis you will only make it worse and delay your recovery. You should also try to identify any shifts in your training that may you contributed to your injury, like a substantial increase in the distance or intensity of your runs. If none of these two factors apply to you, maybe you’re recently started frequenting some new, hillier running routes. Identifying possible causes will help not only your treatment for Achilles tendonitis, but it will also help you avoid making the same mistakes in the future.

Treatment for Achilles Tendonitis - RICE

In addition to rest, ice therapy will also be an effective method of treatment for Achilles tendonitis. Ice packs or wraps will help reduce any inflammation. If your pain is severe you can try taking an anti-inflammatory drug and/or a pain reliever. You should consult your doctor first as to an appropriate dose and timeframe to use any sort of drug in the treatment of your Achilles tendonitis. Massage is another great way to help Achilles tendonitis, especially if you are able to get one from a physical therapists or licensed massage therapist. This will help ease the tension and pain you are feeling.

Prevention is better than cure

To prevent suffering from Achilles tendonitis in the future, make sure you build up your training slowly whenever you’re seeking to intensify your efforts. Make sure you’re runs are done on a variety of surfaces and elevation levels. If you have a hilly run one day, stick to a flat course the next. Always allow yourself ample time to rest and recover from running. Your rest is just as important as running to make you a stronger, more resilient athlete. Achilles tendonitis may be an unwelcome diagnosis, but allowing yourself to learn from your experience will help you avoid injuries in the future.

[tags]tendonitis, Achilles tendonitis, Achilles tendonitis treatment[/tags]