The Achilles tendon, a strong tendon located above the back of the heel bone, moves the body forward and plays an important role when running or jumping. It is derived from the fact that it is the only place that can be wounded from the immortal body of Achilles, the hero of war in Greek mythology, and is now used as a fatal weakness. Achilles tendonitis is a disease that causes symptoms such as pain and swelling due to inflammation of the weak part of the Achilles tendon, which is an important tendon that allows you to run or jump.
The main cause of Achilles tendinitis is physical stress caused by excessive sports activities of people who engage in extreme and intense sports activities or do not enjoy regular exercise. In addition, it is known that continuous bad walking posture, long wearing of shoes that put a burden on the feet, and being overweight also affect the occurrence. Achilles tendinitis is more common in the summer when there is a lot of activity and exercise. It is known that the incidence rate is high not only in athletes with a high amount of exercise and activity, but also in service or sales related occupations where people stand for long hours wearing high-heeled and uncomfortable shoes. Now, let’s take a look at the main symptoms of Achilles tendinitis, as well as various information about treatment and prevention.
Main symptoms of Achilles tendinitis
The initial symptom of Achilles tendinitis is pain in the Achilles tendon area of the heel after exercise or activity. In addition, such pain may occur when taking the first step after waking up in the morning, and it may also be accompanied by a cramp in the calf area. And if the symptoms are more serious, you may feel pain even when you are doing light exercise or resting, and symptoms such as swelling and heat may appear in some cases.
Achilles tendonitis is sometimes mistaken for a disease such as varicose veins due to pain in the heel and calf area. In addition to these misconceptions, if it is regarded as a simple muscle pain symptom and not treated properly in the early stages, the probability of becoming chronic increases, which can act as a cause of significantly lowering the quality of life due to prolonged pain. In addition, the Achilles tendon is a part where blood supply is not smooth, and if inflammation is prolonged, the risk of Achilles tendon rupture is increased even with a small impact due to degenerative changes and tendon damage. As it is known that Achilles tendon rupture has a high probability of recurrence even after treatment, it is important to visit a hospital for an accurate diagnosis and receive treatment at an early stage if several of the early symptoms mentioned above appear.
Achilles tendonitis treatment and prevention
1. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment
Ultrasound and MRI scans are performed to diagnose Achilles tendonitis. MRI scans can check whether the Achilles tendon is degenerated or not, and it is also a commonly used test method for diagnosing Achilles tendonitis because it can identify the area in detail from various angles. In the early stage, the inflamed Achilles tendon should be allowed to rest by reducing exercise or activity. If the pain persists despite these conservative treatments, extracorporeal shock wave and injection therapy are performed. If the symptoms continue to worsen despite these various treatments or are accompanied by rupture of the Achilles tendon, surgical treatment is finally considered.
2. Avoid wearing shoes that put strain on your feet
In order to prevent Achilles tendinitis, it is important to avoid wearing shoes that put strain on the feet as much as possible in daily life. Wearing shoes or shoes that do not fit you for a long time can stress the Achilles tendon and cause inflammation, so it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes that absorb shock well. And using a pad that raises the heel of the shoe to allow the Achilles tendon to rest is also said to be one of the helpful habits in preventing Achilles tendinitis.
3. Enough stretch
Stretching or light gymnastics before exercise or outside activity is also important in preventing Achilles tendinitis. Such stretching and gymnastics not only strengthens muscles and tendons, but also prevents stimulation and stress, so it is said to be very helpful in prevention and management. Also, it can be said that it is an important management habit to refrain from excessive exercise that can put a strain on the body and to exercise at an appropriate intensity suitable for one’s level.
And in the early stage of Achilles tendonitis, it is recommended to avoid movements that put stress on the Achilles tendon or cause pain, especially high jumping movements as much as possible. In addition, it is recommended to pay attention to proper weight management because if the amount of activity increases while the weight is increased, it puts a strain on the Achilles tendon and increases the risk of Achilles tendonitis.
