To treat pain in the Achilles tendon, it is recommended to place a bag of ice pebbles in the sore area and rest, avoiding physical exertion and reducing training.
Achilles tendon pain may indicate a small inflammation, which can occur with a certain type of physical exertion, such as running, walking or cycling, and this is not always severe; pain can also occur by wearing a shoe that presses on this tendon, a concussion there, developing a heel spur or bursitis.Although less common, there are cases where the person says he or she has not made any effort to cause the onset of pain.
- This change is usually simple and doesn’t last long.
- And symptoms improve 7 to 15 days after treatment.
- But if there are no signs of improvement with the following tips.
- Consult a doctor.
In case of pain in the Achilles tendon, some indicated strategies are:
If the pain persists for more than 7 days, it is recommended to consult a doctor, as it may be tendinitis, for example, which can be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs for a few days, and physiotherapy sessions for complete healing.Treatment for tendinitis is not done correctly, pain may get worse and healing takes longer, so it’s important to start treatment as soon as possible.
There is no need to immobilize or bandage the foot
It is recommended to stretch and strengthen the muscles of the legs: gastrocnemia and solear.Stretching is necessary:
Repeat the same exercise with the other leg and do 3 stretches with each leg, twice a day, for 1 week.
After this period, strengthening exercises can be indicated with these same muscles, in which case the same step can be performed, as follows:
The physical therapist may recommend other exercises, as needed, these are just a few examples of what can be done at home.
For people who do an intensive physical activity, a return to training should be gradual.
Learn what you can do to cure Achilles tendinitis
The main symptoms of Achilles tendonopathy are mild pain, while the person is at rest, which becomes moderate during activities such as walking for more than 15 minutes or going up/down stairs; the pain worsens when you bend or jump and you may notice swelling in the back of your foot.When you feel the tendon, it may be possible to find points of increased sensitivity and thickening of the tendon.
In case of rupture of the Achilles tendon the force is very intense and when the tendon is felt its discontinuity can be observed, in this case it may be necessary to perform surgery when the tendon breaks completely, but physiotherapy can only be used in case of partial breakage.
Learn more about Treating Achilles Tendon Rupture
The Achilles tendon lights up when exercised more than usual, and when the person cannot get enough rest, it can cause a rupture at the cellular level, resulting from an incomplete healing response, which may also be related to less blood reaching the tendon.This causes small microscopic tendon injuries, including fibrin deposit and disorganization of collagen fibers that cause pain, inflammation and stiffness of movement.
Your doctor may order an x-ray or ultrasound to assess the source of your pain and indicate appropriate treatment.Rarely, surgery is indicated.