Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles tendonitis is a minor injury and as the name suggests, it’s the inflammation of the Achilles tendon. As this tendon is the largest around the foot, this injury is extremely common amongst runners and it’s thought that about a tenth of all running problems are due to this injury.
Achilles tendonitis is an injury that’s quite slow to heal, mainly because of the poor blood supply that that this tendon receives. However, if the athlete acquires the correct treatment, the injury can be short-lived. If they fail to do this, the tendon can be damaged even further and could even become ruptured.
Symptoms
The symptoms of this injury are quite easy to spot. There can be a mild aching sensation when the athlete pushes off from their foot, while the Achilles tendon can also feel tender. A bump around the tendon can also occur, as can a creaking feeling when they move the tendon. All of these symptoms will be fairly mild at the start of the injury but will gradually progress into a more advanced state.
Athletes must be wary over this injury and make sure they’ve not ruptured their Achilles tendon. If the pain around the tendon means that bending the foot downwards or walking is near on impossible, they may have ruptured the Achilles tendon. If this is the case, seeing a doctor is a matter of urgency as this is a much more serious injury.
Causes
This injury occurs due to the inflammation of the tendon. When too much stress is placed on this area, the tendon becomes subject to tiny tears and inflammation which then causes the pain. It’s often repetitive, or intensive, actions that cause this injury.
Overuse is probably the most common cause and the injury will occur as the tendon has too much stress on it, which will cause the inflammation and therefore the pain. If an athlete has been training more intensively than normal, then overuse is definitely a plausible cause. If a person has been running up a hill then this injury can occur as well. Due to the slope, the tendon has to stretch more and will result in it fatiguing quicker. Also, some athletes have suffered this injury through trauma or infection to the tendon.
Treatment
The main treatment suggestion is rest, as the injury will probably worsen should it come subject to more stress. Ice is also recommended as this is something that should reduce the swelling.
A lot of doctors recommend wearing some sort of support mechanism, such as a temporary foot insert. These orthotic devices will take away some stress from the tendon and relieve the pain. If the injury is more severe, the athlete may be advised to use crutches which will completely take away stress from the area.
If the injury doesn’t seem to be improving and the athlete has been suffering for a while, surgery might be an option. Although this course of action is rare, the surgeon will try and remove the inflamed tissue which should stop the problem. However, this injury usually heals after a few weeks and there are very few cases in which surgery is a requirement.
Prevention
To prevent this injury, the athlete should be looking into ways to reduce stress from the Achilles tendon. One good way to do this is to wear appropriate footwear, as ones that have good cushioning in the bottom and a big arch will provide much better support to the tendon and allow it to come under less stress.
A lot of athletes suffer this injury due to overuse, or working to an intensity which they are not used to. To combat this, anyone who is looking to improve their standard of training should look to do this gradually. If the tendon comes under more stress immediately, this injury is much more likely to occur.
Finally, stretching and strengthening the Achilles tendon is obviously a good tip. Exercises such as toe raises will strengthen the area and this will make it become more susceptible to withstanding weight. What’s more, stretching prior to exercise is a necessary, as a warm up will gradually prepare the area for the stress that it’s about to endure.