Achilles tendinitis is a common clinical condition, and it is one of the most frequent and serious conditions for athletes involved in running, jumping and ball sports. Incomplete treatment often leads to rupture of the Achilles leg and even the end of an athlete’s athletic career.
The Achilles tendon does not have a true tendon sheath, but is surrounded by peritendinous tissue (fatty interstitial tissue to separate the tendon from the tendon sheath). Early pain in Achilles tendinitis is mainly due to injury to the peritendinous tissue, and when the patient gets up or walks continuously, the tendon increases in activity within the peritendinous tissue, so the pain increases, as does the pain during training, and there is pressure pain when pressing the Achilles tendon with a finger.
What are the symptoms of Achilles tendonitis?
Typical symptoms: pain, soreness, pressure, and stiffness over and within the heel, which worsens with activity. It can occur in any area of the Achilles tendon and the pain usually flares up in the early morning or during rest after strenuous exercise. There is intense pain or pressure when the two segments of the tendon are compressed. As the lesion worsens, the tendon becomes enlarged and nodules appear in the area of the lesion.
1.Acute stage
Pain, swelling, redness and burning of the skin at the Achilles tendon during walking, running and other sports.
2.Chronic stage
Achilles tendon pain or stiffness, mostly in the early morning. Walking, especially climbing and going upstairs will feel pain in the Achilles tendon; chronic Achilles tendonitis is more long-term and persistent.
What can cause Achilles tendonitis
1.The body is not active or not yet adjusted
If the physical condition is not good (such as the gastrocnemius muscle flexibility and strength is not enough), not active or not yet adjusted to start sports, especially such as basketball, tennis and other sports that require frequent stops, starts and jumps, it is easy to occur Achilles tendonitis.
2. Exercise too much, too often
If you just start a new exercise program, be sure to stretch before and after the exercise; start slowly and gradually increase the amount of exercise, rather than too much progress. If running exercise, too much uphill running is more likely to lead to Achilles tendonitis.
3.Flat feet
Flat arches increase the risk of Achilles tendonitis because they cause additional stress on the Achilles tendon when walking. If you have flat feet, it is best to wear shoes with support at the arch to avoid further deterioration of the Achilles tendon.
4. Trauma or infection
In some cases, inflammation of the Achilles tendon occurs because of trauma or infection near the Achilles tendon.
How to Treat Achilles Tendonitis
Non-surgical treatment.
1.Rest
Rest reasonably and avoid weight-bearing.
2.Anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving drugs applied externally
3.Massage
It is believed that massage can improve the local blood supply, which can make the local pain sensation absent and play an analgesic role, and can also loosen the adhesions.
4.Use support cushion
Support cushion can elevate the ankle to reduce the stretching of the Achilles tendon. A splint can also be used at night while sleeping to keep the Achilles tendon fixed. If the condition is severe, wearing a walking boot or using crutches is recommended to facilitate Achilles tendon repair.
Surgical treatment.
Indications for surgery
Non-surgical treatment (including physical therapy) can allow the Achilles tendon to heal and repair itself over a period of weeks. If treatment does not work, surgery is required to remove the inflamed tissue around the Achilles tendon.
How to prevent Achilles tendonitis
1.Warm up before exercise
Before exercising, do a good warm-up stretching exercise. Tendon activity open, calf muscles tense too tight or too fatigue, then the impact of the movement to the Achilles tendon, it may cause Achilles tendonitis.
2, strengthen the strength
Heavy load calf movement can make the Achilles tendon withstand greater force.
3.Body strengthening
Strengthening exercises can improve the movement level of the muscles, tendons and ligaments at the calf and ankle joints.
4.Stretching exercises
Calf stretching exercises can improve the flexibility of the tendons.
5.Balance
Perform some exercises to improve your body’s balance and exercise your body’s ability to feel.
6.Pick the right shoes
If the shoes are too big, people tend to bend their toes to gouge the soles, and this action will overuse the metatarsal tendon membrane and related tissues, leading to local tendon strain and triggering Achilles tendonitis.
7.Progressive step by step
Running distance increases too quickly and training too much can bring greater impact to the Achilles tendon. When doing physical exercise, you must be gradual and add volume slowly.