Achilles tendinitis is swelling, inflammation, or irritation of the large tendon found behind the ankle. The condition is also called Achilles tendinopathy, which is commonly seen among athletes. The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. It is an important tendon used during walking, running, and jumping.
The most common symptom is pain behind the heel. The pain can be acute or chronic. Some people feel pain after a sudden increase in training or activity while in some, the pain occurs over a longer period of time.
In younger people, Achilles tendinitis occurs commonly because of tendon overuse. It can become inflamed as seen in runners or athletes. Repeated jumping or stress on the foot may lead to Achilles tendinitis. Also, if the calf muscles are not stretched out, it can lead to heel pain. Having tight calf muscles puts extra stress on the Achilles tendon.
In older people, chronic tendinitis is more common. This is because as the body gets older, the tendons naturally lose elasticity. Breaking and tearing of the tendons and tissues lead to inflammation and pain. In the elderly, heel spurs are common. A bone spur is calcium deposit that grows in the bone and creates pressure on the tissues around it. It can happen because of arthritis, wherein the body tries to cover up for the loss by creating new bones along the affected bones. Spur formation can also happen as part of the natural aging process.
Treatment for Achilles tendonitis includes minimizing or stopping activities that cause pain, switching to sports that put less stress on the tendon such as swimming, and walking on smoother surfaces. Also, there are stretching exercises for the Achilles tendon. Icing the painful area twice or thrice a day for 15 minutes can help relieve symptoms. Wearing shoes with heel cushions or heel lifts can help with decreasing the swelling.
If these treatments fail to relieve symptoms, surgical removal of the inflamed tissue and tendon may be the last option. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy or ESWT can be an alternative to surgery in patients with chronic heel pain. ESWT for Achilles tendonitis is a painless and noninvasive alternative to surgery if all other treatments have not improved the symptoms.
For more information on ESWT Achilles tendonitis, go to naplesheelpain.com
No comments:
Post a Comment