A brief conversation recently with a sportsperson regarding an Achilles problem, a number of suggestions put forward about treating it, each suggestion met with less enthusiasm than the previous one - This conversation really got me thinking.
Make time for your wellness or make more time for your illness down the line, the same theory applies to an injury, make time to look after the little niggles or make more time to look after a long term injury.
The Achilles tendon is a strong tendon that connects the calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus) to the heel bone.
Achilles tendonitis is an overuse injury, it can become chronic if not treated correctly.
Some symptoms include:
Pain in the back of your leg just above the heel
Pain in mornings or after period of rest
Pain decreases as you warm up only to return later
Pressing of the Achilles from the sides feels very tender
Small lump on the Achilles tendon
Walking uphill/upstairs painful
Pain when running or jumping
Chronic cases develop over time, this does not prevent activity but niggles away.
Some causes include:
Overuse
Degeneration
Tight calf muscles
Flat feet
Poor Footwear or recent change in footwear
Uphill treadmill running
In the acute stage-rest, ice, compression, elevation (when icing).
Heat better for chronic cases.
Returning to sport:
Deep tissue massage
Flexibility and strength exercises for the Achilles tendon and calf muscles
Sample of an Achilles tendon
taped with kinesiology tape,
more to come on kinesiology
taping in our next blog,
till next time folks happy training!
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