Achilles Tendon And Sports Injuries - The Texas Foot Specialists

The tendon is a connective tissue that attaches muscles to the bones. And the largest tendon in our body is the Achilles tendon. This is no surprise since the Achilles tendon is responsible for supporting most of the heavy movements in our foot. Which makes it a perfect candidate for injuries especially for athletes.

The Achilles tendon allows us to lift our heel when walking, running or almost every movement in our foot. Therefore any injury to our Achilles tendon can have a direct affect in our movements. A visit to a podiatrist can help identify if you are suffering from Achilles tendonitis. Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum are Podiatrists who specialize in helping people suffering from Achilles tendonitis and other foot disorders.  

The inflammation of the Achilles tendon is called Achilles tendonitis. This inflammation is usually the result of overworking the foot or placing too much stress on your Achilles tendon.

Causes

1. Overuse of the Achilles tendon which lead to development of small tendon tears
2. Arthritis
3. Foot problems such as flat feet or hyper-pronated feet which turns inward while walking
4. Wearing shoes such as high heels and those with minimal support
5. Overweight and obesity, since this adds more pressure to your Achilles tendon
6. Intake of quinolone antibiotics since it can be linked to tenosynovitis

Signs and symptoms

• Pain at the back of the heel
• Difficulty in walking or running
• Achilles tendon is swollen, tender and warm

Severity degrees

• Mild. Pain at the Achilles tendon only occurs during an activity or immediately after a few minutes.
• Moderate. Swelling of the tendon occurs and sometimes, there is a formation of a hard lump or nodule.
• Severe. Any type of activities, even simple ones that involves weight bearing will elicit pain from the Achilles tendon. There are also rare cases wherein the tendon may rupture or tear. When this happens, you will feel a "hard whack" on your heel.

Diagnosis

1. Medical history which will include the type of footwear you normally use as well as your regular activities and exercise habits
2. Physical examination done by your doctor to see tenderness and swelling of your Achilles tendon
3. Imaging tests such as x-ray, ultrasound, and MRI scan of your tendon
4. Blood tests may also be done to check for inflammatory conditions

The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston, we specialize in helping people with foot sports injuries. To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.

Achilles Tendon Injury hits Nikola Pekovic - The Texas Foot Specialists

Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic recently suffered an injured Achilles tendon. It was later announced that the center will be out indefinitely after undergoing a procedure to repair his Achilles' tendon. It is hoped that he will fully recover from the injury and will return to the team.

What is an Achilles tendon injury?

The Achilles' tendon is a band of tissue that can be found at the back of the ankle and above the heels that allows the foot to extend. The Achilles' tendon is also likely to suffer from and injury especially among amateur and professional athletes. It is important that you consult with a podiatrist for the first signs of a foot injury. Dr. Gregory Mangum and Dr. Bruce Miller are Podiatrists who specialize in helping people with foot pain and other types of foot conditions.

What are the causes of Achilles tendon injury?

Achilles tendon can be injured when a sudden force or stress is applied to it. Activities such as football, tennis, diving, basketball, even running that uses a forceful push can cause an Achilles tendon injury. It can also be damaged by accidents like falling or a deep cut at the back of the ankle. Sometimes an Achilles' tendon become weak making it prone to injuries or rupture. Wearing high heeled shoes is also one of the causes of Achilles tendon injury.

What are the symptoms of an Achilles tendon injury?

Signs and symptoms may come immediately right after a sporting activity or injury. The following are some of the symptoms of Achilles tendon injury:

• The foot is difficult to flex
• Stiffness
• Tenderness
• A snapping or popping sound after the accident
• Swelling
• Pain when stretching

What are the treatments for an Achilles tendon injury?

An Achilles tendon injury should be treated immediately. Check with your Podiatrist before any treatment. The following conservative treatments will help the injured tendon to heal naturally:

• To protect your injured Achilles tendon from stretching, using a heel lift is advised.
• Using anti-inflammatory painkillers such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen will relieve the pain and swelling
• Elevate your injured foot using a pillow especially when sitting or lying
• Compressing your injured foot will relieve the swelling
• Apply an ice compact on your injured foot until the pain disappears
• Use crutches to avoid putting extra weight on your injured Achilles tendon

At The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston we specialize in helping people with suffering from foot problems. To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.

Understanding Achilles Tendonitis - The Texas Foot Specialists

Some of us may have experienced having an inflamed Achilles tendon or Achilles tendonitis. This condition makes it difficult for us to walk or even lift our foot. This is common especially for athletes because the Achilles tendon is responsible for supporting almost every heavy foot movement.

The Achilles tendon is located at the back of your foot and connect your calf to your heel. It is used while walking or running, making it constantly exposed to being overused or abused. But this is not only caused by constant use of the Achilles tendon, it can also be due to arthritis which is often seen in middle-aged people or the elderly.

Symptoms of an Achilles tendon includes pain when walking or running. There could also be visible bruising and swelling at the back of your heels. Although this might cause a slight discomfort, visiting a podiatrist is a good way of preventing further injury.

Dr. Gregory Mangum and Dr. Bruce Miller are Podiatrists is a podiatrist who specializes in helping people suffering from Achilles tendonitis and other foot disorders.

Treatment:

The goal of treatment for Achilles tendonitis is to lessen the pressure on the tendon and reduce inflammation. Below are a few tips on how to manage the pain and prevent further injury if you suspect an Achilles tendon injury.

1. Stay away from activities that can aggravate your Achilles tendonitis
2. Make use of shoe inserts to free your tendon from pressure while it heals.
3. Ice application for 20 minutes per hour when the stage is at its acute phase.
4. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken to help reduce pain and inflammation.
5. Casting the foot or wearing a restrictive ankle-boot will minimise your movement and giving your tendon more time to heal.
6. Steroid injections may be used, however, this procedure must only be done by a specialized doctor.

Surgery:

Surgery is considered as the last option when treating Achilles tendonitis. This is only performed when conservative treatment fail. A period of 6 months is given for non-surgical treatments before surgery is recommended. Damaged structures may be removed or re-attached.

Prevention:

1. Maintain your normal and healthy weight.
2. Avoid sudden increases in difficulty when sports training, do this gradually.
3. Stretch during warm ups and cool downs.
4. Rest your foot once pain is felt. 

The Texas Foot Specialists located in Sugar Land, Pasadena and Houston we specialize in helping people with Achilles tendonitis. To schedule an appointment call Sugar Land (281) 242-4448, Pasadena (281) 991-0600 and Houston (713) 664-6677.