Achilles tendinitis is known as an overuse injury of the Achilles tendon, which connects the muscle at the back of your lower leg to your heel bone. It commonly occurs in runners who suddenly increase the intensity of their workout or in older sports players, especially tennis and basketball players.

Luckily, the treatment for Achilles tendinitis isn’t too complicated and there’s a lot you can do from home. But just to be safe, it’s best to work with your local podiatrist to make sure you’re healing properly.

Symptoms

Signs you have Achilles tendinitis are pretty easy to spot. Watch out for:

• Aches in the back of your leg (especially above your heel)
• Pain after a workout
• Pain while going up the stairs or running
• Stiffness and discomfort first thing in the morning (usually eases up throughout the day)

Reduce Your Risk

While Achilles tendinitis is an overuse injury and may be hard to avoid, there are some steps you can take to lower your chances. Try adding these habits into your daily routine:

• Buying the right exercise shoes is crucial. The safest pair will have great cushioning and support and feel roomy
• Invest in custom orthotics or supportive inserts
• If you’re beginning a new workout routine or amping up the intensity of your exercise, always start slow and build from there
• Don’t push yourself on activities that put more pressure and stress on your heels
• Warm up properly before every workout
• Never underestimate how you’re feeling. If you’re experiencing pain at any point during your workout, stop
• Besides your pre-workout warmup, stretch daily. Focus on your ankle and Achilles tendon
• Strengthening your other leg muscles will help lessen the impact and stress on your Achilles
• If you’re prone to Achilles pain, mix up your exercise routine by incorporating more low-impact activities, like swimming or bike riding

Taking The Time to Heal

Achilles tendonitis usually goes away with some self-care habits. The first step in healing is calling your podiatrist. With their help, you’ll be able to figure out the best treatment plan. This may include:

• Over-the-counter medication like Advil
• Attending physical therapy
• Stretching everyday
• Using custom orthotics
• Surgery, in severe cases

You can count on the Foot & Ankle Specialists, PC foot doctors, to care for your feet using a full range of conservative and surgical therapies. Our expert team, including board-certified podiatrists Dr. Scott E. Hughes, Dr. Greg P. Vogt, and Dr. Christine I. Tumele, serves patients of all ages with state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment technologies, including on-site digital x-ray, and ultrasound, diabetic shoes, and digital scanning for custom orthotics. Please contact our office to schedule a consultation. We offer house calls Monday through Thursday.