Are you experiencing painful symptoms in your heel or lower calf, centered around your Achilles tendon? Achilles tendonitis is a common issue that can severely compromise your activity.
At Doctors United, we specialize in Sports Medicine. For those who are experiencing Achilles tendonitis, we offer effective treatments that target symptoms and their root causes. However, we believe that Achilles tendonitis prevention is always preferable to Achilles tendonitis treatment.
To assist those who are seeking to avoid initial injuries from occurring, our experts have compiled the following overview of Achilles tendonitis causes and symptoms, as well as tips to encourage Achilles tendonitis prevention.
What issues, activities, and factors are responsible for this condition and the consequential damage to the Achilles tendon?
Tendonitis is a form of inflammation that affects connective tissues. The Achilles tendon is the body’s thickest tendon. Though strong enough to support the heel and calf during intense activity, it is highly susceptible to tendonitis. In particular, the the middle and lower portions of the tendon are commonly affected by this condition.
What is the root cause of this condition? Because these injuries most often result from gradual damage caused by stress and overuse rather than a single injury, a number of factors may play a role in the onset of tendonitis. Such factors include rapid increases in the duration or intensity of physical activity, excessively tight calf muscles, and bone spurs (extra bone growth on the heel bone).
People who are suffering from Achilles tendonitis may experience the following symptoms:
If you are suffering from one or more of these symptoms, it’s possible that you have Achilles tendonitis. Early treatment can help to prevent severe or long-term damage from occurring, so it is recommended that you pursue prompt treatment and cease activities that may be aggravating this condition.
Those experiencing the early stages of tendonitis may be able to reverse the onset of this condition by ceasing damaging activities and incorporating prevention methods.
The following three Achilles tendonitis prevention tips will help you:
If you are experiencing tendonitis or a different orthopaedic injury, the Sports Medicine specialists at Doctors United can offer you the best treatment options available.