Are you experiencing a mild ache in the back of your leg? You might have Achilles tendonitis. Most of us don't know what this injury is, so identifying it becomes more challenging. Through this blog, we will tell you all about the tendonitis, so keep reading.
Tendonitis usually happens to runners or people who are involved in sports. However, it's not a significant injury and can be easily treated at home with the help of specific simple exercises. People with the injury usually experience pain in their heels or the back of their legs.
Inflammation is a typical response to any bodily injury, so the tendon swells up in the cause of this injury. However, the damage isn't related to just one specific injury and could result from various other reasons. If you want to know more about Achilles tendonitis, keep reading.
What is Achilles Tendonitis & its Symptoms?
Our Achilles tendon is what connects our heel bones to our calves. When the tendon gets stressed for some reason, it results in Achilles tendonitis. The symptoms can usually be treated through physical therapy, rest, or supportive shoes. Our Achilles tendon is the largest in our body. The tendon enables us to walk, jump, run, or even raise our heels.
Tendonitis is simply when our tendon gets inflamed. We need to treat the inflammation to avoid further complications. People who play sports, run, or dance have a higher chance of getting their tendons inflamed. It's also a risk for people with jobs that put pressure on their feet or ankles.
A few symptoms might include:
- Swelling in the heel.
- Pain in the tendon when touched.
- Stiffness in the tendon, especially when you wake up.
- Sharp pain in the tendon length and heel while walking or exercising.
- Uneasiness and pain in the tendon length while standing on one toe.
Now that we have an idea about tendonitis, let us look at what causes Achilles tendonitis.
What Causes Achilles Tendonitis?
The main reason for Achilles tendonitis is the overuse or repeated stress on your Achilles tendons. As a result, you may develop tiny tears in your tendons, or your tendons might become weaker, too. Any activity which puts your tendons under undue stress can lead to injury. Here are some of the causes of getting tendonitis:
- You are using poorly designed equipment, or you're wearing footwear that's not suitable.
- You may have poor technique, or you are suddenly increasing the intensity and volume of your exercise.
- You're either training on sloped surfaces or not adequately trained for the exercise you're doing.
- Age can also be a possible reason for your developing Achilles tendinitis. Our tendons become less flexible with age and can't cope with stress as much.
- You could have long-term health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or high cholesterol.
- You could be taking certain high-risk medications or antibiotics from the quinoline group.
- Obesity or being overweight can also result in developing injury.
What is the Best Home Treatment for Achilles Tendonitis?
Most cases of Achilles tendinitis can be cured at home with the help of natural remedies for Achilles tendinitis. So, let's have a look at what these remedies are:
1. RICE Method
The RICE method is particularly effective for treating your Achilles tendonitis and follows rest, ice, compression, and elevation techniques. Here is what it means:
- Rest: In this stage, you should not be putting any pressure on your tendon for at least a day or two. The reason is that our tendon heals faster when we don't put extra strain on it. In some cases, your doctor might suggest that you use crutches for extra support.
- Ice: You need to wrap an ice bag in a cloth and then place it against your skin. You should be doing this for 20 minutes and then remove the bag to allow your tendon to warm up again. Ice is effective in reducing inflammation, and your swelling will go away sooner,
- Compression: You should wrap a bandage around your tendon to compress it. Doing so helps in preventing additional swelling; however, don't tie anything too tightly so that your blood flow remains uninterrupted.
- Elevation: You must elevate your foot above your chest level so that blood returns to your heart and the swelling decreases. You can do this by simply lying down while putting your foot on a pillow.
2. Stretch
If you want to remove any unwanted stress from your tendons, then you must incorporate stretching into your fitness routine. Stretching your calf muscles before starting a workout helps you prevent the chances of getting Achilles tendinitis. You should also try different Achilles tendonitis home treatment exercises.
3. Low-Impact Exercises
You should always opt for exercises that are of low impact so that you can avoid any stress on your tendons. You can opt for exercises like swimming, which reduces stress on your ankles.
4. Over-the-Counter Medicines
Usually, medicines like ibuprofen or naproxen work to relieve the pain in your ankle. But if the pain is persistent, it's best to consult a doctor and get his advice on the condition of your injury.
What More Can You Do to Treat Achilles Tendonitis?
Here are some remedies that are additional yet best home treatments for Achilles tendonitis:
1. Vitamin E
Vitamin E oil is very beneficial since it reduces inflammation and is an antioxidant. This promotes better blood circulation and accelerates edema reduction. To see results, apply the oil to the affected area regularly.
2. Turmeric
Turmeric has many healing properties, which makes it a great option for treating the injury. Curcumin in the spice works as a natural painkiller and activates our anti-inflammatory response in the body. Mix the powder with water to create a turmeric paste, and then apply it directly to the swelled area.
3. Castor Oil
The oil consists of anti-inflammatory agents that effectively reduce the swelling on your injury. You can warm up the oil and then massage it softly on the affected areas until it gets absorbed.
Conclusion
Achilles tendonitis is an injury that can be treated at home with the right care and remedies. So, if you are experiencing the injury right now, we recommend you take the necessary precautions, and you'll be out of the pain in no time. If you're interested in women's care, lifestyle blogs, female empowerment, etc., head to The Voice of Woman blogs today!
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