Athletic Achilles Tendonitis
December 9, 2007
Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles tendonitis is one of the more common and difficult injuries to treat in athletes due to the individuals high level of activity and frequent reluctance to decrease or stop training. 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 increased swelling and pain.
Some causes of this injury can be:
- Improper shoe selection
- Improper warm-up: lack of flexibility due to lack of stretching (see stretching exercises below)
- Direct trauma.
- Heel bone deformity (seen as a “growth” on the bone)
- Short Achilles (anatomical)
- Over-pronation- excessive inward roll of the foot while walking or running
- Sudden increase in training and excessive hill running
Helpful Tips:
- Avoid hills
- Ice after running
- Decease mileage
Stretching Images:
-hold each stretch for 15 seconds, heel lift(s) under the affected part .
Remember to see your doctor for professional guidance if you suspect that you have Tendonitis.
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