1. What Is Acute AchillesTendinitis?
The Achilles tendon is the large tendon at the back of the lower leg connecting your calf muscles to your heel bone. Acute Achilles tendinitis describes a condition in which the tendon becomes inflamed and painful to touch or move. Usually most pain is centered a few centimeters above the heel. The main difference between chronic Achilles tendinitis and acute Achilles tendinitis is that acute tendinitis tends to be a sharper pain during use but goes away with rest, and chronic tendinitis is a more generalized, aching pain, present all the time.
2. Causes of Acute Achilles Tendinitis
The most common causes of acute Achilles tendinitis are overuse and misuse. If you train too much or too soon following a previous injury, it is easier to inflame your Achilles tendon. Also, if you train frequently on hard surfaces or hills, and train without stretching properly, you are more likely to irritate your Achilles tendon. You may even develop Achilles tendinitis from daily habits such as spending the day in high heels, which shortens the tendon, and then putting on flats, which elongates the tendon.
3. Symptoms of Acute Achilles Tendinitis
You can recognize acute Achilles tendinitis with several symptoms. The most common are pain in your Achilles tendon during exercise that diminishes with rest, redness or swelling in your tendon and extreme tendon sensitivity. Additional symptoms that may surface over time include a popping or tearing sensation in your tendon, chronic stiffness, hardened nodes or bumps where your tendon attaches to the muscle and bone and difficulty jumping, running or walking up and down inclines.
4. Treating Acute Achilles Tendinitis
First, rest your tendon. Second, stretch the tendon gently and frequently. Consider wearing a heel pad to take some tension off the tendon while it heals. Reduce inflammation by icing the area and taking the recommended dosages of over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs. If you are still experiencing pain and inflammation, visit a sports injury professional or physical therapist. This individual may offer additional treatments, such as supportive athletic taping, stretching and strengthening techniques, and additional services that may include long-term preventative measures such as fitting you with orthotics for your shoes or modifying daily routines.
5. Preventing Acute Achilles Tendinitis
Temporarily reduce the intensity of your workout at the first sign of irritation to prevent further damage. Incorporate activities providing a wide range of motion for your Achilles tendon. If you wear heels to work, occasionally slip them off through the day and stretch. If you run hills, also spend time on the downhill and on the flat. Most important, always warm up and stretch properly. Many calf stretches also target your achilles tendon. Ask a sports medicine professional or physical therapist for additional stretching and strengthening ideas.
