The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the human body. It attaches the calf muscles to the heel bone(calcaneus)and is very important because it helps to walk, run, and stand on tiptoe.
Achilles tendinopathy is a common overuse injury caused by repetitive energy storage and releases with excessive compression. This can lead to a rupture of the Achilles tendon. Achilles tendinopathy is more prevalent in people engaging in sport and dancers.
Achilles tendinopathy is graded according to how severe it is,
Mild- Pain in the Achilles tendon during a particular activity or shortly after.
Moderate- The Achilles tendon may swell. In some cases, a hard lump(nodule) may form in the tendon.
Severe- Very occasionally, the Achilles tendon may rapture.
What are the symptoms of Achilles tendinopathy?
The main symptoms include pain and stiffness around the affected Achilles tendon. Pain and stiffness tend to develop gradually and are usually worse when first wake up in the morning. Also, some people have pain during exercise. Other symptoms of Achilles tendinopathy are,
️ Pain in the back of the heel
️ Difficulty walking- sometimes the pain makes walking impossible
️ Swelling of Achilles tendon
️ Stiffness around the Achilles tendon
Warmth of the Achilles tendon
Risk Factors of Achilles tendinopathy
There are number of things that may lead to these repeated tiny injuries to the Achilles tendon.
▫️ Overuse of Achilles tendon- This occurs when the Achilles tendon is stressed until it develops small tears and degeneration. People who play sports that involve jumping such as basketball are also at increased risk.
▫️ Foot problems- Some people with flat feet or hyper pronated feet (feet that turn inward while walking) are prone to Achilles tendinopathy.
▫️ Wearing inappropriate footwear- wearing shoes with minimal support while walking or running can increase the risk, as can wearing high heels.
▫️ Obesity- being overweight places more strain on many parts of the body, including the Achilles tendon
▫️ Arthritis
▫️ Having poor training or exercise techniques
▫️ High blood pressure
▫️ High cholesterol level
▫️ Family history of Achilles tendinopathy
▫️ Prolonged steroid use
Prevention of Achilles tendinopathy
Suggestions to reduce risk of Achilles tendinopathy include,
Incorporate stretching into warm-up and cool-down routines.
Maintain an adequate level of fitness for sports.
Wear good quality supportive shoes appropriate to sport.
Avoid wearing high heels on a regular basis.
Maintain a normal healthy weight.
Physiotherapy treatment is very effective for rehabilitation of Achilles tendinopathy. The treatment which may help to relieve the pain and promote healing.
References: -
https://patient.info/foot-care/heel-and-foot-pain-plantar-fasciitis/achilles-tendinopathy
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/achilles-tendonitis
Shehan Akalanka
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