Achilles tendon: symptoms and treatment of pathology. Inflammation of the Achilles tendon: causes and treatment

Throughout a person’s life, he or she is constantly haunted by certain pains that can be caused by various factors. Most often, a person is aware of the causes of pain and knows how to treat them.

However, injuries and damage to important parts of the body do occur. Their treatment is specific, as are the symptoms. Now I would like to talk about a fairly common problem - pain in the Achilles tendon.

Let's try to figure it out what can cause such pain, what symptoms should you pay attention to and how to deal with such an ailment.

Anatomy of the Achilles tendon

Before moving on to defining symptoms and treatment, it is necessary to understand the anatomy of the tendon in detail.

Let's look at the main aspects you need to know:

  • Achilles tendon the largest and strongest in human body. It can withstand loads of up to 400 kilograms.
  • It acts as a link which connects the calf muscles to the heel bone.
  • Thanks to the tendon the person can flex the ankle joint.
  • Upright walking. It is thanks to the tendon that a person can stand in an upright position. It supports the entire weight of the body and bears the entire load.

It must be said that the Achilles tendon is one of the components ankle joint. Each part performs a number of its functions

Thanks to them, a person can move in a standing position, move his foot, squat, jump, stand on his toes, and so on.

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Causes of pain in the Achilles tendon

Before starting treatment for a disease, it is worth understanding the reasons for its formation. Pain can be caused by a number of factors, which means treatment will vary.

Let's look at the list of the main causes of pain:

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Symptoms

Let's look at the main symptoms. They may change depending on the reasons, but in essence they are all similar. Any injury or inflammation causes pain, but pain varies.

  • In case of injury, sprain or rupture tendon pain becomes severe and sharp. Most often, a person is not even able to lean on his leg; it becomes weak and is unable to withstand even small loads.
  • Pain during inflammation More often than not, everything does not haunt a person constantly and is not intolerable. It appears with sudden movements in ankle joint, as well as during moments of physical activity.
    At first, discomfort is felt and the foot in the heel area seems to be pulled, and after some time they appear. painful sensations.
  • Tendon thickening. The cause for concern may be thickening of the tendon. This is not a normal phenomenon that should be seen by a doctor.

In addition to these main symptoms Another one that almost always occurs is swelling in the heel area.

There are usually no hematomas (only with severe injuries), but there is a tumor. It appears after heavy exertion and goes away within a few days.

It is worth saying that most often the symptoms appear all together, and not separately. Initially they are weakly expressed, but become stronger over time.

Treatment

Let's move on to the treatment of Achilles tendon pain. Treatment may vary and it is strongly recommended to consult a doctor for precise definition diagnosis.

However, there are a number of general treatment measures:

  • Peace. If pain occurs, it is necessary to completely remove or minimize tension on the tendon. In this state, damaged fibers will be able to heal well and quickly, and this will also prevent the problem from worsening.
  • Elastic bandage. It allows you to fix the leg in the correct position and prevents stretching or damage to the tendon.
  • In the case of infections, Doctors will definitely prescribe anti-infective and anti-inflammatory drugs. It is strongly not recommended to take them on your own, since only after examination by a specialist can an accurate diagnosis be made.
  • Various ointments. Cooling, relieving inflammation, increasing cell activity, restoring.
    There are many of them on the market, you can choose any one based on their damage. They help speed up the healing process.
  • Folk remedies. They can replace some medications, relieve pain and speed up healing. For example, it is recommended to rub aloe juice, and also apply cabbage leaves under an elastic bandage.

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Preventing pain and injuries of the Achilles tendon

It is not always possible to prevent injuries from occurring.

However, there are a number preventive measures that can reduce the risk of pain and injury to the Achilles tendon:

  • Stretching. The better a person's muscle stretch and elasticity (especially the calf muscles), the less chance of injury.
  • Try to minimize severe stress on the tendon. If this is not possible, then take breaks to recover.
  • Use warm baths and ointments to prevent pain. They are able to relieve tension and also restore microdamage.
  • The right shoes. It is very important to wear correct and comfortable shoes. It must be the right size, with a tight heel, wide toe, and good soles. It is especially important to remember this during sports or long walks.

The Achilles tendon is the largest and strongest in the human body. It performs several functions: it provides movement in three joints, including the subtalar, the ability to walk upright for homo sapiens (the ligament is attached to the heel and tibia, forming a powerful biomechanical triangle) and has a wide range of mechanical properties. Considering the importance of the Achilles tendon, one can imagine how much inconvenience its inflammation can cause, for example, tendonitis (tendopanthia), characterized by the process of general tissue degeneration in the heel tendon, which entails severe pain and limitation of movements.

Pathology can occur in both adults and young people. In adults, connective tissue loses extensibility and elasticity; as a result of such natural processes, any increase in loads can cause microtears in tissue and the appearance of inflammatory processes. The causes of connective tissue ruptures in young people are sports or household injuries, excessive stress, long-term training, and violations of the recovery regime. Delayed treatment may contribute to the progression of the disease to chronic stage, which significantly complicates its treatment and reduces the final effectiveness.

The Achilles (heel) tendon can withstand the heaviest loads that occur during walking or running and has increased strength and reliability. Nature has provided a set of protective measures that allow it to cope with its role. But age-related changes or excessive uncontrolled physical activity significantly worsen the original functionality or violate their integrity.

The occurrence of injuries is a consequence of overload or age-related physiological changes. Depending on the condition of the tissues, some loads can lead to strengthening of tendons, while others cause dystrophic changes. Tissue damage inevitably causes damage metabolic processes. In some cases, there is a sharp decrease in the amount of fluid (drying of tissues); such processes occur at the age of over forty years.

The Achilles tendon and calf muscle lift and smoothly lower the heel during movement and keep the body upright at rest. The upper part of the tendon is attached to the junction of the muscles, and the lower part is fixed to the posterior surface of the calcaneal tubercle.

Achilles tendon - anatomy

Achilles tendonitis in athletes

This category of people most often suffers from the disease. Constant overload causes acceleration of tendon aging, and this process is accompanied by frequent micro- or macrotrauma. The situation worsens significantly in the absence of time for normal natural recovery. These negative factors inflame the tissue of the Achilles tendon; any movement causes severe pain. The most difficult case is a complete rupture or separation of the tendon from the muscle or bone.

The second cause of injury is a sharp increase in load without long-term preliminary preparation. Patients who are sedentary expose themselves to these risks. sedentary lifestyle life and trying to dramatically increase physical activity. In these cases, the damage is mostly mechanical in nature. Over time, tissues with microcracks and microtears are restored on their own, but numerous scars appear in them, reducing elasticity and extensibility.

Treatment of the inflammatory process is carried out quickly with the help of anti-inflammatory drugs; for mechanical damage, the use of special restorative therapy and physical therapy. In the most difficult cases, it is necessary to resort to surgical methods.

Physiotherapy for the treatment of tendonitis

Factors causing the disease

There are several main reasons that can cause the disease.

FactorsDescription

After 40 years, inevitable age-related changes in metabolic processes and tissue characteristics occur in the human body. The number of collagen (provide strength) and elastin (provide elasticity) fibers decreases. As a result, the tendons can no longer withstand the forces that they previously handled without problems. In its normal state, the Achilles tendon can stretch to at least 5% of its resting length. This allows for shock-absorbing functions, springy leg movements, and loads on the spine within normal limits. The ability to stretch aged tissues is significantly reduced.

This non-physiological position of the foot causes excessive elongation of the Achilles tendon; it is constantly in a loaded state and is injured.

Like all muscle tissues, tendons begin to degrade in the absence of constant loads. Physiological changes occur in muscle and bone tissue. A sharp increase in load causes micro-tears, pain and limited mobility. This process is reversible, as soon as the lifestyle changes - the characteristics of the tendons are completely restored. Loads should be increased gradually, it takes time to strengthen - this is an indispensable condition for gymnastic exercises.

If they have excessive and improper training, there is insufficient time for the tissue to fully recover, this is the cause of tissue inflammation or mechanical rupture. Even mild discomfort in the Achilles tendon should be a signal for rest or examination by a doctor. The initial mild pain in the tendon does not, unfortunately, become a signal for athletes to stop or sharply reduce the intensity of training. As a result, the disease starts and can become chronic. At the same time, the risk of complete rupture of the Achilles tendon increases significantly.

It lengthens the tendon and reduces its plasticity reserves. When walking, excessive deformations occur, resulting in micro-tears or the appearance of inflammatory processes.

Women who wear high-heeled shoes and athletes are at risk. Problems for athletes arise after wearing incorrectly selected shoes. Some sports (weightlifting, discus and hammer throw, etc.) require the leg to be firmly fixed in the correct position. If the tendons are in an unnaturally shortened or significantly overloaded state for a long time, then there is a risk of damage. A sudden transition to regular shoes becomes a certain stress for them; the muscles and tendons are not ready to perform their functions in full.

They occur rarely and, as a rule, in an organism weakened by other diseases or in people with insufficient immunity.

In all cases, the modern start of treatment, proper adjustment of physical activity and sufficient time for complete tissue restoration are the main conditions for recovery.

Classification of forms of the disease

  1. Inflammatory processes of the tissues surrounding the tendon - peritendinitis. In advanced cases, tissues degenerate, and complete restoration of their condition becomes very difficult.
  2. Inflammation of microtraumas and mechanical injuries of tendons – tendonitis. Only the tendons are affected, the surrounding tissues are not damaged.
  3. Tissue degeneration at the site of fixation calcaneus– enthesopathy. Sometimes it can cause the development heel spurs– the complication is difficult to treat and can take on chronic forms.

The signs of all types of diseases are identical - severe pain (can be constant or appear only during loads on the Achilles tendon) and limited mobility of the foot. Without proper medical measures, the disease becomes chronic and, in extreme cases, tissue rupture can occur.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis can be made after interview, palpation or physical examination. The reason for visiting a doctor is the appearance of unpleasant sensations in the Achilles tendon area. To the radiation and ultrasound examination or magnetic resonance imaging is used in the most difficult cases, when it is not possible to make an accurate diagnosis using simple methods. Sometimes there is thickening of the tissue, redness of nearby skin, swelling or creaking. Particular attention is paid to the diagnosis of tendon ruptures.

Drug (conservative) treatment

First of all, the immobility of the foot is ensured by applying a plaster, splint, taping or special orthoses.

To localize inflammatory processes, non-steroidal drugs (Naklofen, Nimesil, etc.) are used; in the most advanced cases, antibiotics are required.

Dolobene, Solcoseryl, Voltaren ointments and pain-relieving compresses are used as additional measures. To increase the absorption efficiency of ointments, ultrasound machines. After pain has been relieved, you can begin therapeutic exercises.

Operative (surgical) treatment

Surgical intervention is required after diagnosing a rupture of the Achilles tendon, its separation from the muscles and bone, or in the absence of positive changes as a result of long-term conservative treatment. During the operation, the tissue that has changed around the tendon is cut off. If, after opening, areas with thickenings are found, then they need to be cut off. To increase the strength of tendons that are too thin after surgery, doctors strengthen them using the tendons of the plantar muscles.

In case of enzetopathy, the bursa is cut off, the damaged tissue is sutured, and the affected areas are removed. If Haglund's deformity is present, the bone growth is cut off. After the operation, the patient must wear special fixation shoes (immobilizing orthosis) for at least one and a half months. You can step on the operated leg three weeks after the operation; a course of rehabilitation gymnastics is mandatory. The total recovery time for the Achilles tendon depends on the complexity of the injury and can last up to three months.

Therapeutic gymnastics (pictured warm-up on a treadmill)

Used after relieving pain and localizing inflammatory processes. An excellent means of preventing disease.


Rehabilitation gymnastics

  1. Stand facing the wall, the affected leg is slightly extended back onto the toe. Place your hands on the wall and lean forward, the tendon should stretch. You must be in this position for at least thirty seconds, the number of repetitions no more than 5 times.
  2. Stand on a slight elevation and squat on your heels; the number of squats and approaches is set taking into account your physical capabilities.
  3. Raise and lower your body on your toes. Pain is not allowed.

After strengthening the tendons, you can run, play, and gradually increase the load. The main condition is that classes should be regular and the load should be moderate. For professional athletes, a set of exercises is developed individually; return to intense exercise can only be done after complete recovery of the Achilles tendon.

Treatment with folk remedies

Should be carried out after consultation with a doctor; if increased pain or prolonged unproductiveness is detected, the technique should be changed.


Shows good results salt baths with the addition of pine needles. The water should be slightly warm and keep your feet for no more than 15 minutes.

Video – Achilles tendonitis

Tendonitis is an inflammatory process that develops in the area where the tendon attaches to the bone. Mainly the tendons located near the elbow, hip, shoulder and knee joints are affected by the disease.

Why does tendinitis develop?

reading information

A tendon is a strong and inelastic band of collagen fibers that connect bones to each other and muscles. Its main purpose is to maintain the joint in a stable state during its movement.

Frequently repeated and intense movements contribute to fatigue of the tendon, which requires sufficient recovery time. Constant overwork contributes to the appearance of fatigue reactions.

Remember! If the load is not further reduced, then tissue necrosis and deposition of calcium salts occur in the inflamed areas. Deposited calcifications worsen the situation, constantly exposing the tissues around them to injury.

Factors that provoke the development of tendinitis

  1. Excessive loads.
  2. Age. Until the age of 35, a healthy Achilles tendon can stretch 5% of its length. This feature allows it to act as a shock absorber. But after 35 years, this extensibility begins to gradually decrease.
  3. Flat feet with hyperpronation.
  4. Haglund's deformity.
  5. Uncomfortable shoes. This factor most often provokes the development of heel tendonitis in athletes.
  6. Chronic infections.

Important! Women who prefer high-heeled shoes are also at risk. After wearing such shoes for a long time, women often experience pain during the transition to flat soles.

Signs of the disease

It all starts with short-term pain that appears during strong physical exertion in certain places. During rest or light exertion, there is no unpleasant or painful sensation. After a while, the pain syndrome begins to manifest itself even with minor loads.

On initial stage diseases at the site of development of tendonitis of the inflamed tendon, the surface of the skin becomes red and has an increased temperature.

Important! Not knowing what tendonitis is, the patient often does not attach importance to the crunching or crackling that appears during movement. The appearance of such characteristic sounds is one of the main signs of the disease.

Treatment methods

Currently used in the fight against the disease different methods treatment. At the initial stage, Achilles tendinitis according to Bubnovsky can be cured in a few months. The set of exercises he proposes helps to quickly overcome various joint diseases, which include tendonitis.

Bubnovsky method

Exercises performed while lying down

  1. While lying on your back, you need to lean on your elbows and stretch your legs. In this position, you should lift your legs one by one.
  2. Alternately, you need to bend your legs at the knee, while simultaneously bringing your elbows towards them. You need to bring your left elbow to your right knee, and your right elbow to your left leg.
  3. Having bent both legs at the knees, you need to pull them towards your chest.
  4. Lower and raise your torso.

Exercises performed while lying on your side

  1. Performing a wide leg swing to the sides.
  2. Stretch the knee forward, after which the foot must be tilted in the opposite direction.
  3. Pulling your knee towards your shoulder, pull it back.

Exercises performed in a kneeling position

  1. While in this position, you need to bend your leg at the knee and move it forward/backward.
  2. Bringing your knee to your bust, you need to lift it up as much as possible, while at the same time lowering your chest.
  3. Bringing your knee to your shoulder, you should move it back a little and swing to the side.

Remember! At the very beginning of performing gymnastics, you can repeat each movement no more than 10 times.

Traditional treatment

To reduce pain and inflammation, the doctor prescribes analgesics, chondroprotectors, anti-inflammatory and hormonal drugs. During treatment of Achilles tendinitis, to reduce the load on inflamed area Tapes and sports tapes must be applied. In difficult cases, a splint, plaster cast or a 24-hour elastic bandage is applied.

Physiotherapy also helps to effectively combat the disease. To “break up” the formed scar tissue, ultrasound, laser, and magnet are used. When the pain syndrome disappears, massage and exercise therapy are added.

If conservative therapy within six months has not led to positive dynamics, then surgical intervention is being considered for the treatment of Achilles tendonitis.

Surgical treatment

When deciding how to treat Achilles tendinitis, the doctor first of all pays attention to the course of the disease, its duration and the methods previously used to combat it. If conservative methods do not help achieve success within six months, then surgical intervention is used to treat chronic tendonitis.

After the operation is completed, there is a long rehabilitation process. At first, the patient will need to wear an immobilizing orthosis. But already 2-3 weeks after the operation he will be able to step on his foot. After the period of wearing the orthosis expires, a course of rehabilitation is prescribed, which includes physiotherapy, massage and exercise therapy.

Folk remedies

Important! Before you start treating Achilles tendonitis with folk remedies, you should consult your doctor.

  • "Ice" massage. It is carried out using pieces of ice, which are used to rub the area of ​​​​inflammation. The duration of the procedure is 15-20 minutes.
  • Take 0.5 grams of curcumin daily.
  • A tincture made from walnut partitions and vodka helps. To prepare the tincture, you will need 1 glass of partitions and 0.5 liters of vodka. Partitions flooded with vodka should be left to steep for 18 days. Rub this mixture over the affected area for 5-6 days.
  • Saline dressings. Stir a spoonful of salt in a glass of slightly warmed water. A napkin soaked well in this solution must be wrapped in a plastic bag and placed in the freezer for a couple of minutes. Afterwards, the finished bandage is applied to the sore spot. You can secure it gauze bandage. It should be worn until the napkin is completely dry.
  • Cold compress. To prepare it, you need an infusion of comfrey. If you don’t have it, you can replace it with calendula tincture. Add 1 tbsp to 300 ml of water. spoon of tincture, soak the fabric with the prepared solution and apply to the inflamed area. The tincture is prepared as follows: 1 tablespoon medicinal herb pour a glass of boiling water, then boil for 5-7 minutes. Then it infuses for about 4 hours.

Prevention

To reduce the risk of developing tendinitis, you should choose only high-quality shoes. For pain in the legs that appears during long-term load, you definitely need to take a break.

Before prolonged physical activity affecting your legs, you should perform several exercises in advance aimed at increasing their endurance. Be sure to include muscle stretching exercises in your set of exercises.

People who have reached middle age should do special exercises, promoting muscle stretching and strengthening.

Contents [Show]

  • Microtraumas.
  • Age-related changes.
  • Uncomfortable shoes.

  • Local hyperthermia.
  • Slight swelling.
  • Crunchy sound.

Appearance

  • Pain in the tendon area.
  • Redness.
  • Swelling in the heel area.

  • Painkillers.

traditional methods of treatment

  • Magnetotherapy.
  • Laser therapy.
  • Ultrasound therapy.
  • Shock wave therapy.
  • Electrophoresis with lidase.
  • Mud applications.

Conclusion

The tendon is the point of connection muscle tissue with bone. It consists of connective tissue, which in cross section is a connection of collagen fibers. Main feature The tendon has high compressive strength and minimal tensile strength.

There are different types of tendons:

  • short;
  • long;
  • rounded;
  • wide;
  • narrow;
  • ribbon-shaped;
  • cord-like;
  • lamellar.

In the human body there are a large number of different tendons, each of which performs its own function.

What is inflammation of the Achilles tendon?

The Achilles tendon is a tendon that is located on the back of the lower leg. Its main function is to connect the calf muscle and the calcaneus.

The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the human body. and as a result, it bears a huge burden. Most often, those at risk for Achilles tendon inflammation include people who run. It is running that gives a high load, often exceeding the permissible limit.

Main causes of Achilles tendon disease

Pain and inflammation in the Achilles tendon area can occur for many reasons:

  • Wearing high-heeled shoes every day. In this case, the Achilles tendon becomes shortened, and switching to another type of shoe will be uncomfortable and painful. If you ignore the symptoms, the development of achillesitis is likely.
  • Shortened tendon at birth. Over time, the Achilles tendon can be stretched with physical therapy or, in worst cases, with surgical operation. In addition, inflammation can develop due to flat feet and metabolic disorders.
  • Excessive load on the Achilles tendon during sports. With an advanced diagnosis, there is huge probability development of serious complications.
  • Infection through the lymph flow or blood.
  • Loss of fiber elasticity in adulthood (around 40 years of age) can lead to damage from low loads.

The main forms of inflammation of the Achilles tendon

Based on the area of ​​inflammation, the disease can be divided into three types:

  1. Inflammation of the substance surrounding the tendon.
  2. Inflammation of the internal substance of the tendon.
  3. Inflammation of the junction of bone and tendon.

Symptoms of inflammation of the Achilles tendon

You can diagnose inflammation yourself based on the following symptoms:

Methods of treating the disease

The most important thing in the treatment of Achilles tendon is to determine the exact cause of the inflammation. To make a correct diagnosis, you need to consult a specialist. If left untreated, subsequent rupture of the Achilles tendon is possible.

First of all, when tendon inflammation is detected, it is necessary to reduce physical activity and, if possible, adhere to bed rest. Then you need to fix the leg in the correct position using an elastic bandage or plaster.

Folk remedies

There are many proven folk recipes for treating tendon inflammation.

Treatment of inflammation of the Achilles tendon with herbal tinctures

  • Tincture of elecampane.

Brew a small amount of herbs hot water and leave for 12 hours. Apply as a compress.

  • Tincture of pine branches.

Fill a container with a volume of up to 5 liters with dry chopped branches a little more than halfway. Pour water and cook for half an hour. Let the broth brew. Use for foot baths.

  • Elderberry tincture.

Fill a container with a volume of up to 5 liters with dry chopped branches a little more than halfway. Pour water and cook for half an hour. After completing the boiling process, add one spoon of soda to the broth. Cool. Use for foot baths.

  • Tincture of hay dust.

Fill a 3-liter container with 1/3 hay dust. Pour water and cook for half an hour. Leave for 15 minutes. Use as a compress or foot bath.

Treatment of inflammation of the Achilles tendon with oils

The following oil mixtures are suitable for relieving inflammation:

  1. Lavender + sunflower.
  2. Lavender + fir + sunflower.
  3. Lavender + geranium + cloves.

It is necessary to lubricate the tendon twice a day with the recommended mixtures. Oils can be purchased at a pharmacy or prepared at home.

Treating inflammation of the Achilles tendon with onion or wormwood

Wormwood and onion are great for relieving inflammation:

  • Chop the onion or wormwood.
  • Mix with a spoon of salt or sugar.
  • Apply as a compress to the affected area for a week.

Treatment of inflammation of the Achilles tendon with ointment

  • Mix baby cream with calendula flowers. Lubricate sore spot and cover with a bandage at night.

Treatment of tendon inflammation using clay compresses

  • Mix half a kilogram of dry clay with water and a small amount apple cider vinegar until a homogeneous consistency is formed. Apply the resulting mixture to the sore spot for a week at night, wrapping it in a bandage.

Treatment of inflammation of the Achilles tendon with ointments and gels

Gels and ointments are widely available, easy to use and fast-acting.

Unlike tinctures, decoctions and compresses, when using ointments and gels there is no need to spend time preparing the medicine.

Ointments and gels:

  1. improve blood circulation in the inflamed area;
  2. strengthen the walls of blood vessels and capillaries;
  3. have anti-inflammatory, warming, healing and analgesic effects.

The most effective preparations in the form of ointments and gels:

  • troxevasin ointment;
  • Voltaren ointment;
  • Dolobene-gel;
  • Solcoseryl;
  • Fastum-gel.

Preventing tendon inflammation

The best prevention for inflammation of the Achilles tendon is:


If you follow these five rules, you won't have to worry about the condition of your Achilles tendon.

If the disease nevertheless overtakes you, it is important to remember that only a specialist can establish the correct diagnosis and recognize the nature of its occurrence.

The Achilles tendon, also known as the heel tendon, is the strongest tendon in the human body, as it can withstand loads of up to 400 kg without rupture. However, despite this fact, it is the most commonly injured tendon.

Inflammation of the Achilles tendon (how it occurs, what reasons can cause it)

In most cases the reason inflammation of the Achilles tendon is wearing uncomfortable shoes for a long time. Most often, the inflammatory process occurs in athletes and dancers, whose feet bear a large load.

Another cause of inflammation may be impaired metabolism. As a result of the fact that there is a large amount of fats and cholesterol in the blood, as well as in the presence of gout, an acute inflammatory process may develop due to the fact that urate microcrystals begin to be deposited in the tissues of the body.

In addition, pain in the tendon area can occur due to diseases of the bones or joints, in the presence of a heel spur or an inflammatory process in the arch of the foot.

Factors that can lead to inflammation include:

  • Microtraumas.
  • Chronic diseases musculoskeletal system.
  • Incorrectly formed tendon.
  • Age-related changes.
  • Flat feet, which is characterized by the presence of hyperpronation.
  • Uncomfortable shoes.

Symptoms of an inflammatory process localized in the Achilles tendon

The main symptom of an inflammatory process in the Achilles tendon is pain in the heel area or under the calves. In most cases, pain occurs after a long rest, that is, after sleep, when a person gets up and starts walking. This is explained by the fact that during sleep the tendon relaxes and the pain subsides, but when a load appears, the pain manifests itself and prevents you from taking a normal step. In addition, there may be other symptoms:

  • Thickening and redness of the skin may be found in the tendon area.
  • Local hyperthermia.
  • Slight swelling.
  • Crunchy sound.

Appearance pain in the bones, in the Achilles area tendon may indicate the development of not only Achilles tendinitis, but also other diseases, such as bursitis or arthrosis of the foot.

How does fluid accumulation in the Achilles tendon manifest?

Liquid in Achilles tendon may manifest itself with the following symptoms:

  • Pain in the tendon area.
  • Redness.
  • Swelling in the heel area.
  • Movement in the ankle and ankle is significantly difficult.

How to treat inflammation of the Achilles tendon

How to treat Achilles tendon? When identifying an inflammatory process, the first thing you need to do is:

  • Avoid stress on the tendon.
  • Apply cold compresses for 10 minutes throughout the day.
  • Limit movement in the tendon. To do this, you can use an elastic bandage and wear low-heeled shoes.

what drugs are used to relieve pain and relieve inflammation in the treatment of Achilles heel

First of all, after examining the patient, the doctor prescribes an x-ray, which can be used to see whether there really is inflammation of the Achilles tendon. If inflammation is present, the doctor may prescribe:

  • Painkillers.
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
  • In some cases, antibiotics may be prescribed.

Medicines may be given as tablets or injections that are given directly near the tendon.

traditional methods of treatment

How to treat inflammation of the Achilles heel joint using traditional medicine? You can try to cure inflammation of the Achilles tendon using traditional medicine. However, before using any methods, you should consult a doctor, since self-medication is harmful to the body. Among the methods of traditional treatment are:

  • The spice curcumin is natural antibiotic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. You need to eat about 0.5 g per day.
  • Tincture of walnut partitions with vodka. To prepare it, you need to take 0.5 liters of vodka and 1 glass of nut partitions. Mix and leave for 20 days. After this, this remedy can be taken 2 times a day, 1 tsp.
  • Oil solution mountain resin mumiyo. This tool You can rub it into the tendon area, and also take 0.1-0.5 g of resin orally, which is dissolved in warm milk. This can be done for 2 weeks, after which a 10-day break is required.
  • Pine-salt foot baths.
  • Ice massage. To do this, you need to massage the tendon area with pieces of ice.

what physiotherapeutic methods can be used to treat inflammation of the Achilles tendon

In combination with drug treatment, the inflammatory process can be treated with physiotherapy, which includes following methods:

  • Magnetotherapy.
  • Laser therapy.
  • Ultrasound therapy.
  • Shock wave therapy.
  • Electrophoresis with lidase.
  • Mud applications.

Prevention of disease development

To prevent inflammation of the tendon, it is necessary to prevent the disease:

  • It is necessary to stretch the tendon before doing heavy exercises.
  • It is necessary to periodically pump up the calf muscles and increase the load over time.
  • You need to do jumping, which will provide elasticity not only to the Achilles tendon, but also to other tendons of the legs.
  • After exercise, it is necessary to stretch the calves.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to say that, despite the fact that the Achilles tendon is the strongest tendon, it is most often subject to stress and can be injured. Therefore, before performing any exercises, you need to do a little warm-up and prevention.

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Often this disease affects people who are on long-term service in the army, police and firefighters. To begin with, it should be noted that the Achilles tendon can be compared to a fairly strong rope of the lower part. With its help, the calf muscles are secured and connected to the foot. The causes of the disease are the most prosaic. If a strong load is applied to it, then inflammation of the Achilles tendon gradually occurs in the tissue. After it, severe pain begins that occurs when moving the feet, this is especially noticeable when walking or running quickly. If the inflammation starts, it will rupture or be torn from the heel bone. let's look at what it should be treatment of inflammation of the Achilles tendon.

Causes of inflammation of the Achilles tendon

Achilles is a Greek hero, warrior and healer. When he was a baby, his mother, the goddess Thetis, dipped him into the waters of the Styx to make him invulnerable. At the same time, she held him by the heel, so that the heel remained the only weak point on Achilles’ body. Subsequently, he died from an arrow from Paris, which landed directly on this heel.

When talking about Achilles, doctors do not mean the heel itself, but the tendon, which is the most important part hindfoot. We doctors often curse when faced with inflammation. It is difficult to treat, especially if you are dealing with an athlete who is eager to return to training long before the Achilles tendon inflammation has resolved and is willing to risk his health to do so.

Most often, the disease occurs when heavy loads are applied to the calf muscles. This often results in chronic tension and shortening. These processes stretch the Achilles tendon, and it loses its ability to rest. Athletes do long jumps sudden movements, tremors, etc. They lead to the inflammatory process of the Achilles tendon.

Most often, inflammation of the Achilles tendon manifests itself in the form of pain near the heel or under the calves. Its peak can be felt in the early morning, when a person gets to his feet after a long rest and goes somewhere. After all, when we go to bed in the evening and stretch our feet, this leads to relaxation of the tendon, which helps the pain subside. But when you begin to put physical stress on the body again, the pain does not allow you to take even a step.

Causes of inflammation of the Achilles tendon in women

However, inflammation affects not only real athletes, but often also women from 20 to 45 years old. Many girls start wearing heels of 5 - 10 cm as early as adolescence. They remain supporters of heels even after becoming office workers - so as not to seem like black sheep. Over time, they develop contracture (shortening) of the Achilles tendons, because the tendon does not have to stretch to position the foot comfortably, as it would in flat shoes.

But what happens when, after years of wearing high heels, a woman decides to “get back to nature” or exercise and wears flat shoes? If her tendons are significantly shortened, her feet do not feel good in such shoes.

The tendon tries to stretch, to reach the back of the foot, which is now located differently relative to the lower leg. We have seen what happens to the plantar fascia when it is overstretched. The same thing happens with the Achilles tendon; it overstretches and twists, pulling the periosteum away from the heel bone and causing periostitis, in this case called inflammation (achilles).

If the problem is not addressed, it will become chronic, especially in the summer months, when women are more likely to wear sandals and comfortable shoes and change from high heels to low heels several times a day, and vice versa. As long as a woman wears only high heels, she does not have tendonitis. But, as you already know, high heels lead to a lot of other problems. (By the way, men who have worn shoes with 4–5 cm heels throughout their adult lives and suddenly switched to sneakers with 2.5 cm heels also face the problem of Achillitis.)

Congenital causes of inflammation of the Achilles tendon

Another common cause of the disease in both women and men is congenital. Some babies are born with Achilles tendons that are too short and live with them until the situation is resolved with stretching exercises or surgery to lengthen them. Babies who walk exclusively on their toes were likely born with too short Achilles tendons. In this case, tiptoeing has nothing to do with little tricks or speed of movement.

Overload as a cause of inflammation of the Achilles tendon

The third reason is overload of the tendon and its surrounding area. This often occurs in athletes and is called classic joint overuse syndrome.

  • Increased stress on the tendon causes inflammation of the periosteum, which can become chronic because the athlete does not have time to thoroughly heal the injured area.
  • This condition is often aggravated by poor biomechanics, especially overpronation, which is not addressed until the Achilles tendon inflammation becomes too severe.
  • Usually the deterioration is associated with some kind of injury - when the athlete made an unsuccessful movement or twisted his leg.

Of course, something similar can happen not to an athlete. You can simply slip on the stairs or the side of the sidewalk, land poorly and severely strain your tendon.

As I said, inflammation is the result of excessive stretching and twisting, which in turn pulls the periosteum away from the back of the heel bone or the place where the two muscles meet - the gastrocnemius and soleus. In some cases, it is not that the tendon is overloaded or shortened, but that the shortened calf muscle forces it to overextend to compensate for the deficiency.

Eat different ways identifying the cause of tendonitis, and diagnosis is often based on medical history.

Has the problem existed since childhood?

Did you experience any discomfort as an adult?

Perhaps he declared himself for the first time after starting sports?

Has the patient recently abandoned higher heels in favor of low heels?

Was there any injury?

It is also necessary to take into account whether there are deviations in pronation and supination. Perhaps biomechanical defects on their own or in combination with another cause are to blame for the disease.

How to treat inflammation of the Achilles tendon using traditional methods?

Most effective way Physiotherapy is considered the treatment. The healthcare professional tries to stretch the muscle, which helps relieve tension in the tendons. Sometimes an ordinary massage is enough, as well as the use of ultrasound and weak current pulses. Sometimes the disease can be cured with antibiotics. You can also wear a corsage at night. It is used to fix the foot bone at a right angle. In advanced forms of the disease, it is not recommended to remove it during the day. At the same time, they walk on crutches.

The Achilles tendon can only be cured over a long period of time. The main thing that will help get rid of the disease is a change in the rhythm of life. Often this is a simple refusal to engage in professional sports. This is only necessary in order not to worsen the situation, because inflammation can be started before doctors intervene.

Treating inflammation of the Achilles tendon is not easy. First of all, this is due to poor blood supply to this area and insufficient supply here. nutrients necessary for healing. As with other diseases lower limbs, it is very important to start proper treatment when it has not yet become acute. Due to poor circulation, the healing process is complicated and delayed.

Orthopedic treatment inflammation of the Achilles tendon

If the underlying cause of the disease is impaired pronation, neither stretching nor physical therapy will help correct the biomechanical error. The treatment plan must include an accurate assessment and correction of the pronation that caused the inflammation. The optimal solution is good shoes with orthopedic inserts.

Treatment often involves methods such as heel pads, anti-inflammatory drugs in tablets or injections, and surgery to remove “calcium buildup.” But unfortunately they don't decide main problem– impaired pronation. At proper treatment With the use of orthopedic means, the disease is cured in a few weeks. After this, periodic attacks of pain may occur, which can be relieved by applying ice. But nothing serious is happening that would make you stop playing sports.

Let's assume that the damage is not very serious, and the inflammation of the tendon was relieved with therapy and rest. What happens if the main causes of inflammation are biomechanical? Then you will need orthopedic aids. And new shoes will need to be put on as quickly as possible to prevent re-inflammation.

Orthopedics will not provide a complete recovery, because... the tendon needs to be stretched to its normal length. But special tabs will ensure its correct stretching, at the right angle relative to the heel bone and calf muscles. The fact is that they correct violations of pronation and supination, which cause inflammation.

In the practice of treating foot diseases and sports injuries Doctors treat hundreds of Achilles tendon inflammations using orthotic inserts in combination with therapy. In all of these cases, patients experienced discomfort for at least a year without relief from other treatments. Orthopedic treatment of tendon inflammation is successful in 85% of cases.

Massage and stretching as a treatment for Achilles tendon inflammation

After the diagnosis of inflammation of the Achilles tendon is made and the cause of the disease is identified, therapy begins. A popular treatment for inflammation of the Achilles tendon in the past, especially in the chronic form of the disease, was rubbing. It acts like some forms of massage, particularly shiatsu, and actually results in more more inflammation. The idea here is to force the body to fight inflammation with renewed vigor. Theoretically, if this happens, the Achilles tendon inflammation will go away on its own, without other forms of treatment. I think it's good example how nature does the work usually left to drugs and direct intervention.

If inflammation of the Achilles tendon has been established, orthopedic devices (if necessary) have been selected, treatment - in any form - has successfully dealt with the inflammation, you can begin stretching exercises for the Achilles tendon and calf muscles. However, in this case it is necessary to pre-warm the muscles and tendons for two reasons. Unheated soft fabrics They are easily damaged when stretched, and after warming up they can be stretched to the maximum, achieving optimal results. Your doctor will show you how to do these exercises correctly.

How to treat inflammation of the Achilles tendon using immobilization?

IN exceptional cases– usually, if the athlete does not intend to give up training, and the usual conservative treatment does not help, he has to completely immobilize the limb by placing a plaster on the lower leg. It prevents the patient from causing further harm to himself, and his tendon heals smoothly. The cast is worn for 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the severity of the injury. After removal of the cast, long-term physical therapy follows, aimed at restoring the strength and flexibility of the tendon and surrounding muscles.

Another case where the injured area is placed in a cast is an Achilles tendon rupture. The torn tendon is surgically stitched, because poor blood circulation prevents its natural healing. After surgery, a cast is placed on the leg up to the knee to keep the tendon motionless for 6 to 8 weeks. As you probably guessed, after the cast is removed, physical therapy treatment for inflammation of the Achilles tendon is required.


  1. Decrease in elasticity with age. The tendon contains collagen and elastic fibers, which make it strong and stretchable. The older a person gets, the more these indicators decrease, and stress can lead to ruptures or damage to tendon fibers. This is precisely why after 35 years any training should begin with a warm-up.
  2. Heavy loads. As a rule, athletes are exposed to them. Excessive training leads to overstrain of the tendon. A short rest period does not allow the tissues to recover sufficiently and fiber rupture may occur.
  3. Flat feet with overpronation, when the foot falls inward. When walking in this position, the tendon is stretched more and can be injured.
  4. Uncomfortable shoes, especially for sports training. Incorrect load distribution occurs, which can lead to the development of this pathology. Women's love for high heels can result in the formation of Achilles tendonitis. Treatment in this case is also necessary.
  5. A lump on the heel (Haglund's deformity) where the tendon attaches.
  6. Infectious diseases can also trigger the development of pathology.
  7. Some bone and joint problems, such as arthritis. Different lengths legs
  8. The cause of the development of pathology can be gout, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease.

Symptoms of the disease

  • Spicy.
  • Chronic.
  • Gradual increase in pain.
  • During exercise, the pain becomes stronger, even warming up and warming up do not help.
  • Rest also does not relieve pain; you can already feel it immediately after waking up.
  • When going down or going up stairs, pain develops.
  1. The tendon thickens.
  2. Excessive tension is felt in the calf muscles.
  3. Mobility may be limited in the ankle area.
  4. Pain may be felt throughout the tendon or just in the heel area.
  5. Creaking may occur when the ankle joint moves.
  6. It becomes increasingly difficult to bend the foot and stand on the toes.

Types of disease

  1. Peritendinitis is manifested by an inflammatory process in the surrounding soft tissues.
  2. Tendinitis - the Achilles tendon itself is affected, the adjacent tissues are not affected.
  3. Enthesopathy. With this form of the disease, a degenerative process develops at the border with the bone, and a heel spur may appear.

Diagnosis of the disease

  1. Physical examination. The doctor palpates and determines the places where the pain is felt most.
  2. Radiation diagnostics, but in the absence of calcifications it will not help make an accurate diagnosis.
  3. An MRI will help determine the presence of ruptures.
  4. Ultrasound. It can be used to determine the need for surgical intervention.
  5. An X-ray examination is also carried out, it shows the location of the inflammatory process.

Tendonitis therapy

  1. Conservative therapy.
  2. Drug treatment.
  3. Traditional methods of therapy.
  4. Physiotherapeutic procedures.
  5. Surgical intervention.

  • Apply a splint or plaster.
  • Use an elastic bandage.
  • Taping.
  • Application of orthoses that can partially or completely limit movement.
  • Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - Nimesil, Naklofen.
  • If extensive inflammation occurs, antibiotic therapy may be required.
  • To relieve pain, you can apply a compress at night using Analgin, Novocaine, or inject an anesthetic.
  • If Achilles tendonitis is diagnosed, treatment with ointments is also possible. For this purpose, Voltaren, Dolobene gel, and Solcoseryl are often used.

Physiotherapy against tendonitis

  • Magnetotherapy.
  • Laser treatment.
  • Ultrasound treatment.
  • Shock wave therapy.
  • Electrophoresis.
  • Mud applications.

  1. Ice massage. To do this, take plastic cups and pour water into them and place them in the freezer. When the liquid freezes, top part containers massage the injured area for 15-20 minutes several times a day.
  2. "Homemade plaster." You need to beat the chicken protein and add 1 tablespoon of alcohol or vodka. Beat well and add a tablespoon of flour. Apply the mixture to an elastic bandage and bandage the sore spot. This bandage needs to be changed every day, it will help relieve swelling and pain.
  3. Traditional healers recommend adding turmeric to your diet. The curcumin it contains helps relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
  4. Using saline dressings. Must be in a glass first warm water dissolve a tablespoon of salt. Soak a napkin in the liquid, squeeze it out, wrap it in a bag and place it in the freezer for a few minutes. Apply to the sore spot and bandage it, hold until the napkin is completely dry.
  • Prepare an infusion of a tablespoon of comfrey, calendula and 250 ml hot water. Bring to a boil, leave for several hours, then dilute 1 tablespoon of infusion in 300 ml of water and apply a bandage to the injured area.
  • Elecampane compress. You need to take 3 tablespoons of the herb and pour 0.5 liters of hot water, boil for 15 minutes. Soak a napkin in the broth and apply to the sore spot.
  • Using pine twigs to prepare baths. You need to take a bucket and fill two-thirds with pine branches, pour cold water and boil for half an hour. Then you need to leave for 2-3 hours and take baths for 15-20 minutes.
  • Use a mixture of 2 drops of fir and lavender oils, and also add a teaspoon of any vegetable.
  • Wormwood tincture has a general strengthening effect on the body and relieves inflammation. To prepare it, you need to take 2 tablespoons of dry herb and pour 250 ml of boiling water, after 30 minutes of infusion, take a tablespoon several times a day.
  1. Calendula ointment will help cope with the inflammatory process. It’s quite simple to prepare: you need to mix equal amounts of baby cream and calendula flowers. It is best to apply to the affected area at night.
  2. Take equal amounts of pork fat and wormwood ointment, combine and melt over fire. After cooling, it can be applied to the affected area.
  3. You can make an ointment from clay. To do this, take 500 g of clay and dilute it in water to the consistency of mastic, and then add 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Then moisten a napkin in the resulting composition and apply to the sore spot for an hour. The course of therapy is up to 6 procedures and helps get rid of pain and swelling.

Thus, if a diagnosis of Achilles tendinitis is made, treatment with folk remedies will help you quickly return to your normal lifestyle.

Surgery

  1. Walking comes first; for this you need to choose comfortable shoes and, while moving, perform a smooth roll from heel to toe. Walking time, speed and step length should be increased gradually.
  2. It is recommended to do calf raises and half squats.
  3. Exercising in water helps recovery well. The body loses most of its weight, so those exercises that cannot be done in the gym at a certain period can be safely performed in the water.
  4. You can run only after a good warm-up.
  5. It is useful to perform exercises to stretch the calf muscles and tendons; to do this, stand near a wall, lean on your hands, and put your injured leg back and rest on your toes. Remain in this position for 30 seconds.
  6. Stand on the edge of the platform and squat. This exercise improves the strength and elasticity of the Achilles tendon.

  1. With age, the elasticity of the tendon decreases, so after 40 years it is necessary to lead an active lifestyle and include in a set of exercises those that will help use the calf muscles.
  2. When playing sports or any kind of exercise, you should not immediately start the main exercises; you need to do a warm-up and a stretching routine.
  3. All athletes must ensure compliance with the training regimen; muscles should not be overloaded.
  4. For any sports activities you need to choose the right shoes.

The Achilles tendon, also known as the heel tendon, is the strongest tendon in the human body, as it can withstand loads of up to 400 kg without rupture. However, despite this fact, it is the most commonly injured tendon.

Inflammation of the Achilles tendon (how it occurs, what reasons can cause it)

In most cases the reason inflammation of the Achilles tendon is wearing uncomfortable shoes for a long time. Most often, the inflammatory process occurs in athletes and dancers, whose feet bear a large load.

Another cause of inflammation may be impaired metabolism. As a result of the fact that there is a large amount of fats and cholesterol in the blood, as well as in the presence of gout, an acute inflammatory process may develop due to the fact that urate microcrystals begin to be deposited in the tissues of the body.

In addition, pain in the tendon area can occur due to diseases of the bones or joints, in the presence of a heel spur or an inflammatory process in the arch of the foot.

Factors that can lead to inflammation include:

Microtraumas. Chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Incorrectly formed tendon. Age-related changes. Flat feet, which is characterized by the presence of hyperpronation. Uncomfortable shoes.

Symptoms of an inflammatory process localized in the Achilles tendon

The main symptom of an inflammatory process in the Achilles tendon is pain in the heel area or under the calves. In most cases, pain occurs after a long rest, that is, after sleep, when a person gets up and starts walking. This is explained by the fact that during sleep the tendon relaxes and the pain subsides, but when a load appears, the pain manifests itself and prevents you from taking a normal step. In addition, there may be other symptoms:

Thickening and redness of the skin may be found in the tendon area. Local hyperthermia. Slight swelling. Crunchy sound.

Appearance pain in the bones, in the Achilles area tendon may indicate the development of not only Achilles tendinitis, but also other diseases, such as bursitis or arthrosis of the foot.

How does fluid accumulation in the Achilles tendon manifest?

Fluid in the Achilles tendon may manifest itself with the following symptoms:

Pain in the tendon area. Redness. Swelling in the heel area. Movement in the ankle and ankle is significantly difficult.

How to treat inflammation of the Achilles tendon

How to treat Achilles tendon? When identifying an inflammatory process, the first thing you need to do is:

Avoid stress on the tendon. Apply cold compresses for 10 minutes throughout the day. Limit movement in the tendon. To do this, you can use an elastic bandage and wear low-heeled shoes.

what drugs are used to relieve pain and relieve inflammation in the treatment of Achilles heel

First of all, after examining the patient, the doctor prescribes an x-ray, which can be used to see whether there really is inflammation of the Achilles tendon. If inflammation is present, the doctor may prescribe:

Painkillers. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In some cases, antibiotics may be prescribed.

Medicines may be given as tablets or injections that are given directly near the tendon.

traditional methods of treatment

How to treat inflammation of the Achilles heel joint using traditional medicine? You can try to cure inflammation of the Achilles tendon using traditional medicine. However, before using any methods, you should consult a doctor, since self-medication is harmful to the body. Among the methods of traditional treatment are:

The spice curcumin is a natural antibiotic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. You need to eat about 0.5 g per day. Tincture of walnut partitions with vodka. To prepare it, you need to take 0.5 liters of vodka and 1 glass of nut partitions. Mix and leave for 20 days. After this, this remedy can be taken 2 times a day, 1 tsp. Oil solution of mountain resin mumiyo. This remedy can be rubbed into the tendon area, and also taken orally 0.1-0.5 g of resin, which is dissolved in warm milk. This can be done for 2 weeks, after which a 10-day break is required. Pine-salt foot baths. Ice massage. To do this, you need to massage the tendon area with pieces of ice.

what physiotherapeutic methods can be used to treat inflammation of the Achilles tendon

In combination with drug treatment, the inflammatory process can be treated with physiotherapy, which includes the following methods:

Magnetotherapy. Laser therapy. Ultrasound therapy. Shock wave therapy. Electrophoresis with lidase. Mud applications.

Prevention of disease development

To prevent inflammation of the tendon, it is necessary to prevent the disease:

It is necessary to stretch the tendon before doing heavy exercises. It is necessary to periodically pump up the calf muscles and increase the load over time. You need to do jumping, which will provide elasticity not only to the Achilles tendon, but also to other tendons of the legs. After exercise, it is necessary to stretch the calves.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to say that, despite the fact that the Achilles tendon is the strongest tendon, it is most often subject to stress and can be injured. Therefore, before performing any exercises, you need to do a little warm-up and prevention.

We are always told that playing sports is good for health. Of course, moderate physical activity is simply necessary to be in good shape and have healthy body and a healthy mind. But, as you know, playing professional sports is not only money and fame, but also frequent injuries, which sometimes cause an athlete to leave the sport. In our article we will look at one of these diseases – Achilles tendonitis. Treatment of this disease will also be considered.

What is pathology

Tendinitis is a disease characterized by inflammation in the Achilles tendon area. The pathology often develops in people who are professionally involved in sports, that is, they subject the Achilles tendon to overstrain, which leads to the appearance of the disease.

Below we will take a closer look at the treatment. Achilles tendonitis can develop at older ages, even in those who do not play sports. It's connected with age-related changes, the range of motion in the ankle joint gradually decreases, and the tendon becomes less elastic, which can lead to injury.

What triggers the development of the disease

Have you been diagnosed with Achilles tendinitis? The treatment and causes of this pathology will be discussed in the article. First, let's look in more detail at the factors that provoke the disease:

Decrease in elasticity with age. The tendon contains collagen and elastic fibers, which make it strong and stretchable. The older a person gets, the more these indicators decrease, and stress can lead to ruptures or damage to tendon fibers. This is precisely why after 35 years, any training should begin with a warm-up. Heavy loads. As a rule, athletes are exposed to them. Excessive training leads to overstrain of the tendon. A short period of rest does not allow the tissues to recover sufficiently and fiber rupture may occur. Flat feet with overpronation, when the foot falls inward. When walking in this position, the tendon is stretched more and can be injured. Inconvenient shoes, especially for sports training. Incorrect load distribution occurs, which can lead to the development of this pathology. Women's love for high heels can result in the formation of Achilles tendonitis. Treatment in this case is also necessary. A growth on the heel (Haglund's deformity) in the place where the tendon is attached. Infectious diseases can also trigger the development of pathology. Some problems with bones and joints, for example, arthritis. Different leg lengths. The cause of the development of pathology can be gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and thyroid disease.

Any of these reasons may result in the need for serious treatment; Achilles tendonitis will not go away on its own. It is advisable to consult a doctor when the first signs appear.

Symptoms of the disease

This disease can occur in two forms:

Acute.Chronic.

If there is an acute form of pathology, then the following manifestations are possible:

The appearance of pain during exercise or the training process. Gradually the pain subsides, and after rest it completely disappears.

If you feel the Achilles tendon, you feel discomfort.

If you give your legs a rest, the micro-tears heal, so it seems that everything has passed, but new loads lead to re-injury.

If you do not pay attention to the symptoms in time, then the pathology gradually becomes chronic, which has the following symptoms:

Gradual increase in pain. During exercise, the pain becomes stronger, even warming up and warming up do not help. Rest also does not relieve pain, you can already feel it immediately after waking up. During the descent or ascent of the stairs, a pain syndrome develops.

Both chronic and acute form diseases may also have the following manifestations:

The tendon thickens. There is excessive tension in the calf muscles. Mobility may be limited in the ankle area. Pain may be felt throughout the tendon or just in the heel area. There may be a creaking sensation when moving the ankle joint. It becomes increasingly difficult to bend the foot and stand on the toes.

Chronic Achilles tendonitis should not be allowed to develop. Treatment in this case will require longer and more serious treatment.

Types of disease

The disease can progress and manifest itself in different ways. Depending on this, several forms of pathology are distinguished:

Peritendinitis is manifested by an inflammatory process in the surrounding soft tissues. Tendinitis - the Achilles tendon itself is affected, adjacent tissues are not affected. Enthesopathy. With this form of the disease, a degenerative process develops at the border with the bone, and a heel spur may appear.

Diagnosis of the disease

If Achilles tendonitis is suspected, treatment should begin only after the diagnosis has been clarified.

The following diagnostic methods are used:

Physical examination. The doctor performs palpation and determines the places where the pain is felt most. Radiation diagnostics, but in the absence of calcifications, it will not help make an accurate diagnosis. MRI will help determine the presence of ruptures. Ultrasound. With its help, you can determine the need for surgical intervention. An X-ray examination is also carried out, it shows the location of the inflammatory process.

Once diagnosis confirms Achilles tendonitis, treatment should be prescribed by a doctor.

Tendonitis therapy

If unpleasant sensations in the tendon occur for the first time, then it is often enough to limit the load for a while and give your legs a rest. You can use ice to remove swelling and redness.

If the pain does not go away even after resting and reducing the load, you will have to visit a doctor. As a rule, treatment of this disease is carried out in several directions:

Conservative therapy. Drug treatment. Traditional methods of therapy. Physiotherapeutic procedures. Surgical intervention.

Depending on the severity of the disease, the doctor chooses treatment tactics.

Drug treatment for tendinitis

If Achilles tendinitis occurs, treatment for tears or minor injuries should begin with reducing stress and immobilizing the area. This can be done in several ways:

Apply a splint or plaster. Use an elastic bandage. Taping. Apply orthoses that can partially or completely limit movement.

This is where treatment should begin if Achilles tendonitis occurs. The photo demonstrates this well.

Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - Nimesil, Naklofen. If there is an extensive inflammatory process, then antibacterial therapy may be required. To relieve pain, you can apply a compress at night using Analgin, Novocaine or inject an anesthetic. If Achilles tendonitis is diagnosed, treatment with ointments is also possible. For this purpose, Voltaren, Dolobene gel, and Solcoseryl are often used.

After using medications to relieve inflammation and reduce pain, you can begin physiotherapeutic procedures.

Physiotherapy against tendonitis

Physiotherapeutic methods are an excellent addition to drug treatment. The following procedures are most often prescribed to patients:

Magnetotherapy. Laser treatment. Ultrasound treatment. Shock wave therapy.

Electrophoresis. Mud applications.

Correctly carried out therapy, if Achilles tendinitis occurs (treatment and symptoms are presented to your attention in the article), will soon give positive result. The pain subsides and mobility is restored.

Traditional medicine for tendinitis

Can help with many diseases traditional treatment. Achilles tendonitis also responds well to it. Most in effective ways can be called:

Ice massage. To do this, take plastic cups and pour water into them and place them in the freezer. When the liquid freezes, massage the injured area with the upper part of the container for 15-20 minutes several times a day. “Homemade plaster.” You need to beat the chicken protein and add 1 tablespoon of alcohol or vodka. Beat well and add a tablespoon of flour. Apply the mixture to an elastic bandage and bandage the sore spot. This bandage needs to be changed every day, it will help relieve swelling and pain. Traditional healers recommend adding turmeric to the diet. The curcumin it contains helps relieve pain and inflammation. Using salt dressings. First you need to dissolve a tablespoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Soak a napkin in the liquid, squeeze it out, wrap it in a bag and place it in the freezer for a few minutes. Apply to the sore spot and bandage it, hold until the napkin is completely dry.

If there is Achilles tendonitis, treatment with folk remedies can be carried out using infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs:

Prepare an infusion of a tablespoon of comfrey, calendula and 250 ml of hot water. Bring to a boil, leave for several hours, and then dilute 1 tablespoon of infusion in 300 ml of water and apply a bandage to the injured area. Compress from elecampane. You need to take 3 tablespoons of the herb and pour 0.5 liters of hot water, boil for 15 minutes. Soak a napkin in the broth and apply to the sore spot. Use pine branches to prepare baths. You need to take a bucket and fill it two-thirds with pine branches, add cold water and boil for half an hour. Then you need to leave for 2-3 hours and take baths for 15-20 minutes. Use a mixture of 2 drops of fir and lavender oils to rub the sore spot, and also add a teaspoon of any vegetable. Wormwood tincture has a restorative effect on the body and relieves inflammation. To prepare it, you need to take 2 tablespoons of dry herb and pour 250 ml of boiling water, after 30 minutes of infusion, take a tablespoon several times a day.

Calendula ointment will help cope with the inflammatory process. It’s quite simple to prepare: you need to mix equal amounts of baby cream and calendula flowers. It is best to apply to a sore spot at night. Take the same amount of pork fat and wormwood ointment, combine and melt over fire. After cooling, you can apply it to the affected area. You can prepare an ointment from clay. To do this, take 500 g of clay and dilute it in water to the consistency of mastic, and then add 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Then moisten a napkin in the resulting composition and apply to the sore spot for an hour. The course of therapy is up to 6 procedures and helps get rid of pain and swelling.

Thus, if a diagnosis of Achilles tendinitis is made, treatment with folk remedies will help you quickly return to your normal lifestyle.

Surgery

If all conservative treatment methods have been tried, but there is no result, then you will have to resort to surgical intervention. During the operation, the doctor makes an incision and excises the affected area, and then the tendon is sutured. If there is a Haglund's growth, then it is also removed.

If you still had to resort to surgery for a disease such as Achilles tendonitis, treatment and rehabilitation after surgery will take a couple of months. You will have to wear a special boot for 6 weeks. Gradually, after about a couple of weeks, you can try to step on the operated leg.

After removing the orthosis, a rehabilitation course is prescribed that will help completely restore the functioning of the tendon. This usually takes from a month to three.

Special exercises for tendonitis

After surgical intervention a set of exercises will help you recover faster. Here are some recommendations for their implementation:

Walking comes first; for this you need to choose comfortable shoes and, while moving, perform a smooth roll from heel to toe. Walking time, speed and step length should be increased gradually. It is recommended to do tip-ups and half-squats. Exercises in water help recovery well. The body loses most of its weight, so those exercises that cannot be done in the gym at a certain period can be safely performed in the water. You can go jogging only after a good warm-up. It is useful to do exercises to stretch the calf muscles and tendons; to do this, stand near a wall and lean on hands, and put the injured leg back and rest on the toe. Remain in this position for 30 seconds. Stand on the edge of the platform and squat. This exercise improves the strength and elasticity of the Achilles tendon.

When performing any exercises, you must remember that the load should increase gradually. Return to sports training is possible only after the permission of the attending physician.

How to prevent the development of pathology

We looked at a disease such as Achilles tendonitis. Treatment and prevention must be at the proper level to prevent the development of pathology. To do this, you should follow the following recommendations:

With age, the elasticity of the tendon decreases, so after 40 years it is necessary to lead an active lifestyle and include in the set of exercises those that will help to use the calf muscles. When playing sports or any load, you should not immediately start the main exercises, you must do a warm-up and stretching routine .All athletes must ensure compliance with the training regimen; muscles should not be overloaded. For any sports activities, you need to choose the right shoes.

If you consult a doctor with the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease and follow all recommendations for treatment and recovery, then the prognosis for Achilles tendonitis is quite favorable. Gradually, the tissues will recover, the inflammatory process will disappear, and it will be possible to return to a sports regime or normal lifestyle. But we must always remember that our health is only in our hands, so take care of yourself.



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