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How to Treat
and Prevent Achilles Tendinitis
Achilles tendinitis or regular achilles pains are injuries many runners
come across in their running career. Reason enough to learn more about
them so you know what to look out for !
Your achilles connects your calf muscles with your heel bone. When your
achilles has to work too hard it starts to hurt. It tightens. It can
feel like it is burning.
This is what they call achilles tendinitis or a achilles
tendon injury.
In this section I'll cover the following questions :
- What causes achilles tendinitis ?
- How can you prevent achilles tendinitis ?
- How do you treat achilles tendinitis ?
- When do you go to the doctor ?
What causes achilles tendinitis ?
Achilles tendinitis is caused by stress on the achilles. More stress
than the achilles can take.
This typically happens when :
You increase your mileage too much
when you increase your mileage more than is good for you, your body,
including your achilles, will have to work too hard. Learn more about increasing
mileage safely.
You do too much speedwork in your
running training.
Speedwork is fun. But when you do too much you will put too much stress
on your body.
You are doing more hill work than is
good for you.
I used to live in The Netherlands, easily one of the flattest countries
in the world, so not much chance for me to do too much hill work there.
But on holidays, like last time I went to Tuscany, I take my chance to
run in the hills. After a longer hilly run my achilles is the first one
to tell me it is time for a rest day !
You overpronate
Don't know what pronation is ? Then have a good look at the running
shoes section. When you overpronate your arch moves too far
inward when your foot lands on the ground. This can cause an achilles
tendon injury like achilles tendinitis.
How can you prevent Achilles tendinitis ?
Well, just look at the causes above and eliminate them !
- Follow a safe and sound running
program
- Prevent excessive hill work
- Check your shoes
But then we forget an important extra possibility to prevent achilles
tendinitis :
Making your legs stronger through stretching and
strengthening.
There are some exercises you can do. Good exercises are :
Heel drops to make your achilles stronger :
Stand on a curb with the front of your feet. Then let your heels drop.
Hold for a while (count slowly to five). And then lift again. Repeat.
Heel lifts to make your calves stronger :
Stand on the floor. Then lift your heels. Slowly count to five and drop
your heels again. Repeat.
How do you treat achilles tendinitis ?
How to treat achilles tendinitis?
There are a few different ways to do that:
(Self-)Massage
Massaging your achilles can help to make your achilles a bit more
flexible.
Ice
Putting ice on your achilles for 15 minutes will help against the
inflammation.
Use one of these specialized achilles
tendon injury products:
HTP Heel Seats
The HTP Heel Seats work to quickly
relieve pain by applying acupressure directly beneath the pain hot
spots. This speeds up recovery and reliefs you of the pain.
click here for more information
Gel Heel Seats
HTP Gel Heel Seats offer a softer
and enveloping cushion, without sacrificing any of the
heel seats proven and pain relieving qualities.
click here for more information
Silipos Achilles Heel Sleeve

The Silipos Achilles Heel Sleeve provides amazing
relief from heel maladies like an achilles tendon injury or other heel
pain issues you are dealing with.
click here for more information
Cho-pat Achilles Tendon Strap

The Cho-pat Achilles Tendon Strap provides relief
and support.
click here for more information
Bauerfeind AchilloTrain Pro Achilles Tendon
Support

Relieve pain and swelling with the lightweight, breathable Bauerfeind
AchilloTrain Pro Achilles Tendon Support
click here for more information
When do you go to the doctor?
When you get worse, go see a doctor. Beginning achilles pains are not a
reason necessarily to immediately go to the doctor. But if your
self-treatment and some of the excellent products above do not help,
then you should consider getting medical treatment.
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Go
from Achilles Tendinitis to Running Injuries
Go
from Achilles Tendinitis Page to Best Running Tips Homepage
Running Injuries
Running Injury Prevention
Foot Injuries:
Foot Pain |
Black Toenail |
Stress Fractures |
Posterior Tibial Tendonitis |
Heel Injuries:
Heel Pain |
Achilles Tendinitis |
Heel Spur / Plantar Fasciitis |
Knee Injuries:
Knee Pain |
Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITB) |
Leg Injuries:
Leg / Calf Cramps |
Shin Splints |
Hamstring Injury |
Hip Pain
Upper Body Injuries:
Nipple Chafing |
Side Stitch |
Back Pain |
Chest Pain
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