How to Eliminate Foot Pain From Achilles Tendonitis With Insoles
The Achilles tendon is the longest and stoutest of all the tendons in the body and its function is to connect the muscles in the heel with those in the calf. This tendon is subject to tremendous pressure and in cases of running or jumping it sometimes needs to manage up to twelve times the body weight. This tendon works very hard and is prone to injury that can lead to inflammation and tenderness, which in turn can develop into Achilles tendonitis and foot pain.
How Does the Condition Come About?
When the condition develops in young people, it can almost always be ascribed to overuse of the tendon due to a sudden frenzy of physical activity without warming up properly. Those activities that require a great deal of unexpected movements and jumping are often the greatest contributors to the development of Achilles tendonitis. When physical injuries to the ankle, foot, calf or lower leg lead to inflammation, Achilles tendonitis often develops very quickly. Arthritis can most certainly also contribute to the development of Achilles tendonitis, and sometimes bone growths in the tendon can cause severe irritation, leading to inflammation.
What are the Symptoms?
Most people that suffer from Achilles tendonitis complain of severe pain behind the heel or of foot pain. The pain experienced from Achilles tendonitis is often much worse when getting up in the morning, when sitting for long periods, and when the muscles are not exercised for some time. Most patients report tenderness and swelling in the area of the tendon, and jumping or pushing often result in sever, sudden pain. Standing on the toes is often excruciating.
What Can be Done About the Condition?
There are several treatment options for Achilles tendonitis, ranging from shoe insoles to drastic surgical interventions. Most foot specialists advise patients to rest the affected foot, and this can often be achieved by wearing a cast. A special shoe insole is often used to raise the affected heel slightly, thereby lessening the pressure on the heel itself. It helps to apply ice to the area of inflammation because this will help to improve the blood flow, and it will provide some measure of relief from foot pain. In cases of severe pain and discomfort, foot specialists often prescribe shoe insoles or anti-inflammatory medication that can help speed up the healing process.
Regardless of the other treatment options, almost all patients are advised to undergo some physical therapy that consists of stretching and strengthening exercises that aim to make the muscles of the calf suppler. When every possible treatment method has been tried without success, surgery may be considered as a last resort. Most surgical procedures that aim to treat Achilles tendonitis concentrate upon the removal of a part of the tendon and subsequent lengthening of the remaining part.
How Can One Stop Achilles Tendonitis From Developing?
Most sportsmen know how important it is to avoid foot pain by using insoles and completing a series of stretching and warming up exercises before they subject their bodies to the rigors of exercise. The more flexible the tendons and muscles are, the less likely the chances for injury, and prevention with insoles is always better than cure.
