Achilles tendinitis

Who's most likely to get it?

The most likely candidates of Achilles tendinitis are runners. Because of the nature of running, it is common for the Achilles tendon to suffer from overuse if you are a runner. Other people that are at an increased risk to develop Achilles tendinitis include

• People who are middle-aged or older - The Achilles tendon can become irritated over time, so oftentimes people who are of this age range are more likely to develop Achilles tendinitis, especially if they play stop-start sports, such as tennis, basketball or dance.
• Flat feet - People who don’t have as much arch in their foot can unintentionally cause strain to their Achilles tendon.
• Heavier people - When there is more weight on the body, there is a higher strain on the Achilles tendon as it moves you throughout your day.
• Workout conditions - Pain in the Achilles is more common in colder weather, uphill movement and in shoes without sufficient support, such as worn out tennis shoes.
• Psoriasis or High Blood pressure - Both of these conditions can make you more likely to develop Achilles tendinitis.
• Bone spur - This is a bone-like lump that grows on a normal bone over time. They usually develop near joints, such as those around your heel and ankle, and can irritate the Achilles tendon if it’s near.
• Specific Antibiotics - An antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections, Flouroquinolones, has shown to be linked to Achilles tendinitis.

Diagnosis

Most likely your doctor will be able to tell if you have Achilles tendinitis from a physical exam, where she will evaluate things like flexibility and range of movement of the area around the tendon. If you do have pain around your Achilles tendon, it is important to get a physical exam, and if necessary, imaging scans as well. This is to rule out the possibility that you have ruptured your Achilles tendon which is more severe.

Treatment & Prevention

There are a lot of ways that Achilles tendinitis can be treated, which range from resting the tendon, to surgery. We will go over the non-surgical treatment options first.

Non-surgical Options

• RICE method - This stands for: Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate. This is common with sports injuries, especially those dealing with swelling.
• Changing exercise - You should avoid the type of exercise you have previous done that hurts the tendon.
• NSAIDS - This stands for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. You might better know these as either their name-brands or their active ingredients: Advil (ibuprofin), Motrin (ibuprofin), aspirin, Aleve (naproxen sodium)
• Shoe insert - Your doctor may recommend an insert or a wedge to place in your shoe to help relax the strain that is on the tendon area.
• Physical therapy exercises to heal the tendon
• Shockwave therapy - This is where sound therapy is used to heel the tendon.
• Brisement - This is where a liquid that will numb the pain, called an anesthetic, is injected into the tendon. This will break up scar tissue and hopefully, reduce the issue.

Surgical Options

Your surgery will depend on how severe your case is, age, activity level and way of life. Your doctor will give you multiple options to choose, ranging from less involved to more involved. Some surgeries may mean that you may not be able to play sports after, so it is important that you choose the surgery that is right for you.

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