Achilles Tendinitis

How Is Achilles Tendinitis Treated?

Self-care methods include rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE). Over-the-counter drugs such as nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may relieve pain. Improved stretching, night splints (to stretch the tendon), and immobilization for 2 to 4 weeks may help. Other treatments are orthotic devices (shoe inserts to raise the heel) and heel pads or cups for shoes. Severe cases may need walking boots and crutches. Physical therapy and maybe changes in the exercise program may let the tendon heal. The last resort is surgery to remove inflamed tissue around the tendon.

If tendinitis is untreated and the tendon continues to have small tears caused by exercise and repeated movement, the tendon can rupture. Then, surgery is needed

DOs and DON’Ts in Managing Achilles Tendinitis:

• DO use proper conditioning to prevent another tendon injury. Stretch daily, before and after exercising. Always do warm-up exercises and cool down after exercising.
• DO cross-train. Do high-impact activities, such as running and jumping, and then low-impact activities, such as cycling and swimming.
• DO strengthen calf muscles. Exercises such as toe raises trains the muscle-tendon unit to handle more force. These are best done by returning slowly to the ground after each toe raise.
• DO follow physical therapy and exercise instructions to recover muscle strength and range of motion at the ankle.
• DO take pain medicines as prescribed.
• DO call your health care provider if you have increasing calf pain, cannot rise onto tiptoe or walk, or have increased swelling at the injury site.

• DON’T wear poorly fitting shoes. Exercise shoes should cushion the heel and have firm arch support.
• DON’T do anything that causes too much force on the tendon until it’s healed.
• DON’T have frequent cortisone or steroid injectons around the Achilles tendon. They can increase the risk of tendon rupture.