Achilles tendinitis is a common lower limb injury, especially among athletes and others who lead physically active lives. Stretching from the back of your heel to the base of your calf muscle, the Achilles tendon helps you walk, run, and stand by supporting your heel and coordinating movements involving your foot and your leg.
Achilles tendinitis happens when the tendon becomes irritated and inflamed. Without treatment, tendinitis can progress to a more serious condition — tendinosis — involving an actual “breakdown” of the tendon tissue.
Though surgery may be required for more severe types of tendinitis, when caught early, more conservative treatment options can be quite effective. In this post, Stephen Eichelsdorfer, DPM, offers an overview of four noninvasive Achilles tendinitis treatments that may help patients at Town Center Foot & Ankle avoid tendon surgery.
Your Achilles tendon is designed to be flexible and strong — flexible to accommodate a wide range of motion and strong enough to support your weight. You move your Achilles tendon every time you take a step, sit down, stand up, or simply stand still, and every movement can exacerbate your injury.
Immobilization prevents your Achilles tendon from moving while also providing it with support and protection. Typically, we use a brace or a cast, depending on your injury and other factors. especially when used in the initial stages of healing, immobilization prevents reinjury and continued irritation that interferes with normal healing.
Orthotics are custom shoe inserts designed to address specific foot or gait issues, including Achilles tendinitis. Designed specifically for your foot shape and other factors, custom orthotics support normal foot alignment, relieving irritation and inflammation that make tendinitis symptoms worse.
Orthotics can be especially beneficial for treating Achilles tendinitis caused by an abnormal gait pattern that puts added strain and stress on your foot or your ankle specifically. Best of all, orthotics are available for all types of shoes, including athletic footwear.
For milder cases of acute or chronic Achilles tendinitis, a night splint may be the answer. Like their name implies, these splints are worn at night — while you sleep.
Night splints keep your foot in a specific position while you sleep, gently stretching the tendon while preventing it from additional irritation. Splints temporarily immobilize your foot, supporting natural healing and reducing morning stiffness and pain. Over time, splints support greater flexibility in the tendon, potentially reducing the inflammation at the core of tendinitis symptoms.
Physical therapy can be effective in helping manage both acute and chronic tendinitis. Used alone or in combination with other options on this list, physical therapy uses special exercises and stretches tailored to your specific needs.
These activities promote circulation, which, in turn, supports healing and recovery. They also improve flexibility and strength in the tendon and surrounding muscles for faster recovery and prevention of future symptoms.
In addition to exercises, physical therapy uses other techniques, like massage or manual therapy, ultrasound therapy, and electrical stimulation. Many people find significant relief by combining therapy with oral medications and ice packs, relieving pain so their therapy is more effective.
Like other orthopedic conditions, Achilles tendinitis responds best when it’s treated early. To learn what’s causing your heel or foot pain and how we can help, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Eichelsdorfer and the team at Town Center Foot & Ankle today.
