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Achilles Tendonitis
Definition
Achilles tendonitis causes inflammation and degeneration of the achilles tendon. The achilles tendon is the large tendon located in the back of the leg that inserts into the heel. The pain caused by achilles tendonitis can develop gradually without a history of trauma. The pain can be a shooting pain, burning pain, or even an extremely piercing pain. Achilles tendonitis should not be left untreated due to the danger that the tendon can become weak and ruptured.
The reasons Achilles' tendonitis develops are many - from a lack of proper stretching after exercise (not just before), improper shoes, biomechanical problems (extremes of arch height, either very flat or very high), direct trauma and a short Achilles' tendon to begin with. Additionally, there can be more subtle factors. A knee injury in the past that never healed, a stiff big toe joint, a pinched nerve in the front of the foot - all of these can alter your walking or running, making you disproportionately bear weight more on the heel than the whole foot. Any and all of these conditions can be fixed with appropriate treatment, once the instigating cause is determined.
Individuals who suffer from achilles tendonitis often complain that their first steps out of bed in the morning are extremely painful. Another common complaint is pain after steps are taken after long periods of sitting. This pain often lessens with activity.
Cause
There are several factors that can cause achilles tendonitis. The most common cause is over-pronation. Over-pronation occurs in the walking process, when the arch collapses upon weight bearing, adding stress on the achilles tendon
Other factors that lead to achilles tendonitis are improper shoe selection, inadequate stretching prior to engaging in athletics, a short achilles tendon, direct trauma (injury) to the tendon, and heel bone deformity.
Treatment and Prevention
In the meantime, stopping running, taking anti-inflammatory medications and applying ice when the Achilles' is painful can temporarily ease the condition. Pushing through the pain and continuing to do the very exercises that aggravate it can result in a tear of the tendon where at first there was just inflammation. As you might guess, a torn Achilles' is a MUCH more difficult problem from which to recover.
A heel cup or heel cradle elevates the heel to reduce stress and pressure on the achilles tendon. The device should be made with light-weight, shock absorbing materials. An orthotic device can be used to control over-pronation, support the longitudinal arch, and reduce stress on the achilles tendon.
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