How Does a Podiatrist Treat Achilles Tendonitis?

The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the human body and is very strong, but it is also the tendon we rupture the most often. Everyone who is active can suffer from Achilles tendonitis, a common overuse injury and inflammation of the tendon.

Symptoms of Achilles tendonitis include mild pain after exercise or running that gradually worsens, a noticeable sense of sluggishness in your leg, and episodes of diffuse or localized pain, sometimes severe, along the tendon during or a few hours after running. Other symptoms can be morning tenderness about an inch and a half above the point where the Achilles tendon is attached to the heel bone, stiffness that generally diminishes as the tendon warms up with use, and swelling.

Treatment depends on the degree of injury to the tendon, but normally includes rest, which may mean a total withdrawal from running or exercise for a week, or simply switching to another exercise, such as swimming, that does not stress the Achilles tendon. Treatment can also include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, orthoses, which are devices to help support the muscle and relieve stress on the tendon such as a a heel pad or shoe insert, a bandage specifically designed to restrict motion of the tendon, and stretching, massage, ultrasound and appropriate exercises to strengthen the weak muscle group in front of the leg and upward foot flexors.