Achilles Tendonitis
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Achilles
tendonitis, like any tendonitis is one of the more common
and one of the most difficult injuries to treat in athletes
due to the individuals high level of activity and frequent
reluctance to decrease or stop training. In addition
the nature of the tendonitis tissue is a slow healing tissue.
It is associated with pain in the back of the heel and 1"
to 3" above it. The range of pain is from burning or
prickly to shooting and piercing especially when running "uphill".
The danger is, if left unresolved, the fibers of the tissue
can become weak and rupture, accompanied by big swelling and
pain. Or at the least due to minute tears in the fibers may
result in painful scar tissue. |
The causes of this injury can be:
1-The single biggest cause of Achilles Tendonitis
as is any tendonitis in the lower extremity is due to over-pronation
(spreading of the foot to the floor with each step). As the heel
bone everts (turns outward) in pronation the fibers of the tendon
are repetitively stretched beyond their range of efficient "tracking"
and heat builds up (inflammation) as the fibers of the tendon
rub against the fascia (fascia is like a Saran wrap covering the
tendon) harder than they should. In addition the pull at the insertion
can cause this overgrowth of bone commonly seen technically called
a "Haglund's Deformity".
2-Improper shoe selection
3-Improper warm-up: lack of flexibility due to lack of stretching (see stretching
exercises)
4-Direct trauma. 5-Heel bone deformity (seen as a "growth" on the bone)
6-Short Achilles Tendon (anatomical)
7-"Functional shortage"
(FS) of one leg.
Treatment for Achilles Tendonitis:
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Avoid hills
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Ice after running
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Decease mileage
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Stretching program, including entire lower extremity. Stretching of gastroc
(Achilles) and soleus muscles should be learned"technically" correctly.
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Heel lift(s) under the affected part
Silicone Dynamic Orthotics, minimizes the overpronation forces allowing greater
efficiency of the "tracking' of the tendon.
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