Achilles Tendonitis Treatment

Achilles tendonitis is the irritation and inflammation of the Achilles tendon, located on the back of the leg and connecting the calf muscle to the heel bone. Achilles pain is usually felt on the back of the heel, where the tendon connects to the heel bone.

Treatment for Achilles tendonitis is best described in one word, prevention. Preventing Achilles tendonitis is the best way to avoid experiencing pain and weeks of rest from your favorite athletic activities. But, if you are like the rest of us, you did not prevent it from happening and you need to know how to stop the pain and prevent it from happening, again.

Prevention beings with daily stretching; maintaining the tendons flexibility can prevent tendonitis since the main cause of tendonitis is lack of flexibility. Stretching before exercise, or even at the start of each day, can increase the flexibility of the Achilles tendon and the ankle joint.

Foot mechanics, such as overpronation, are the other leading cause of Achilles tendonitis. Custom orthotics, heel cups, and arch supports can be used to correct the abnormalities of the foot and prevent Achilles tendonitis. Improper foot mechanics can create unnecessary stress and strain on the Achilles tendon.

A heel wedge is another type of insert option. The wedge is placed in the shoe and minimizes the stress put on the Achilles tendon. Heel wedges can be placed in both athletic shoes and work shoes, aiding in the healing process by absorbing force and shock on the heel and Achilles tendon.

If you do have Achilles tendonitis, rest is your best option. Rest, especially from exercise, will allow the inflammation of the tendon to subside and the body to heal itself. A period of rest is the best treatment after feeling the pain of Achilles tendonitis to prevent the symptoms from getting worse and possible rupture of the Achilles tendon. If you have tried rest, with the pain still being significant, then immobilization is the next step. Immobilization by either a removable walking boot, or sometimes in more severe cases, a cast, can allow the inflamed tissue to cool down quickly.

Icing the injury is also another great option to cool down the inflammation quickly. Applying ice to the area can stimulate the blood flow and relieve the pain associated with the inflammation. If you are continuing to exercise, applying ice afterwards is important to relieve the inflammation of the Achilles tendon.

Anti-inflammatory medications can also help with pain caused by Achilles tendonitis. Anti-inflammatory medications decrease the swelling and inflammation, while providing pain relief. If anti-inflammatory medications do not help, cortisone injections are NOT recommended for the decrease in pain and inflammation. Patients experience Achilles tendonitis and receive cortisone injections have a higher rate of Achilles tendon rupture.

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