Many people know of the Achilles tendon as a common site of inflammation, called Achilles tendinitis. Achilles tendinitis is most often due to overuse, as from running, walking, and sports such as basketball that involve jumping. It may also be associated with types of arthritis such as ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, or osteoarthritis in the ankle. The inflammation of Achilles tendinitis causes pain in the affected heel during walking or running. Often, the tendon is painful to the touch, and the skin over the tendon may be red and swollen.
Activities and risk factors linked to increased rates of Achilles tendinitis include:
Sports participation
Participation in running, or other high-impact sports featuring running and jumping.
Training choices
Suddenly increasing your activity rate a lot in a short time can greatly reduce your injury risk.
Footwear
Wearing shoes that are worn out, ill-fitting, or not appropriate for your chosen activity.
Age
Tendons tend to lose strength and flexibility as you get older.
Bio mechanics
Flat feet, tight calves, and other various deformities and conditions can increase strain on the Achilles tendon.
How Can Fix Your Achilles Tendinitis?
Mild cases of tendinitis can often be treated at home. Pain that does not go away or becomes severe enough to affect your day-to-day life should be examined by our team of podiatric sports medicine specialists.
Home Care
At home, manage your condition using the RICE protocol:
Rest
Avoid activities that stress the tendon and increase your pain.
Ice
Use ice packs as directed to help with swelling. If making your own ice pack, remember not to touch cold surfaces directly to skin; wrap them in a thin towel first. Do not ice for more than 20 minutes at a time.
Compression
Use of compression wraps and bandages can reduce swelling and improve blood flow through the area.
Elevation
Prop your feet up throughout the day to aid with swelling.
Make sure you also evaluate your footwear and training choices and make any necessary changes to your equipment or routine before you get back to activity.
With any luck, these self-care strategies may be all you need. However, if pain persists, please visit us.
TCM help in Achilles Tendinitis
At Canyon Foot & Ankle, we have you covered with effective treatments for Achilles tendinitis. Even if your tendinitis pain is severe, we can help you get back to full speed as quickly as possible.
Potential treatment options may include:
Shockwave Therapy (AWT)
Shockwave therapy has emerged as a possible treatment option for patients with chronic tendon problems. The procedure uses either pressurized air or electromagnetic pulses to delivers shock waves to the body to help treat of a variety of chronic disorders including:
Shockwave therapy has emerged as a possible treatment option for patients with chronic tendon problems. The procedure uses either pressurized air or electromagnetic pulses to delivers shock waves to the body to help treat of a variety of chronic disorders including:
Plantar fasciitis
Calcific tendonitis
Tennis elbow
Consultation: The physician will check your pulse, look at your tongue, identify signs and symptoms and give a diagnosis with TCM principles.
Acupuncture: Studies that were done found that acupuncture stimulates our body’s natural painkillers and relieve pain. It aids in the release of blocked channels (improving Qi and Blood stagnation).
Medication: It will be given based on the diagnosis of the physician to improve your foot and overall condition.
