Achilles Tendonitis

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Achilles tendonitis is an overuse injury of the achilles tendon that commonly occurs among athletes or active individuals due to overtraining or training under incorrect conditions. Insertional achilles tendonitis refers to a special case of the condition in which the injury occurs close to the heel bone. The key symptom of the condition is pain and tenderness in the achilles tendon. In some cases, achilles tendonitis may be accompanied by a swollen achilles tendon.Treatment of achilles tendonitis is mainly in the form of resting the achilles tendon by reducing the level of activity.

The achilles tendonis a band of fibrous tissue that runs from the heel bone to the calf muscles. Another name for the heel bone  is the calcaneus and the achilles tendon is also called the calcaneal tendon. The end that connects to the calf muscles connects to both the gastrocnemius and soleus calf muscles. As mentioned above, insertional achilles tendonitis refers to an injury that is focused on the point of connection of the achilles tendon with the heel bone.

What Are The Usual Causes Of Achilles Tendonitis?

The most usual cause of achilles tendonitis is a sudden increase in training intensity of someone who runs for exercise or competitive reasons. You will also see it in middle aged individuals who occasionally play a running sport like tennis or basketball. The infrequent nature of their exertions can serve as a trigger for the onset of tendonitis. This is because the body may be unable to easily adjust from days of inactivity to sudden intense physical activity.

Symptoms

Symptoms of achilles tendonitis include aching, pain or swelling over the achilles tendon. The pain usually starts as a mild aching at the back of the patient’s leg (just above the heel) after he or she has completed a run or tennis/basketball game.

The suffering from the condition may also experience stiffness or tenderness in the achilles tendon area, especially first thing in the morning.

Swollen Achilles Tendon

A swollen achilles tendon is a typical symptom of achilles tendonitis.  However, it may also be a sign of degeneration of the tendon. If you experience this symptom, you should visit your doctor to find out the cause of this condition.

Treatment Of Achilles Tendonitis

Probably the best treatment is prevention in the first place. You can help to prevent the onset of achilles tendonitis by increasing your activity level gradually. You should also follow a stretching and warm up routine at the beginning of each stint of activity. Choose shoes that have adequate cushioning in the heel area and proper arch support. Avoid using worn out shoes, especially for physically intensive activity.

If you do start to suffer from this type of tendonitis, you should take a break from your physical exercise routine until the symptoms have receded. When you start working out again, follow the guidelines  above to reduce the risk of recurrence.