3 Real World Examples of Achilles Tendonitis
That nagging pain at the back of your heel, or just above it, could be more than just a stiff calf muscle. About 6-24% of people in their lifetime will sustain some form of Achilles tendonitis- and if you’re an athlete, you’re closer to the higher end. Although this tendon is strong, the force we generate through it is vast. And if it’s not well trained, sedentary people can trigger it simply by standing for too long. Below, we at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists have outline such scenarios in detail.
Overtraining
Imagine a guy in his 40s who loves to play basketball on the weekends. He spent all winter mostly sedentary, but with the warmer weather, he jumped straight into intense, hour-long games without much warm-up or consistent exercise during the week.
This sudden increase in high-impact activity after a period of downtime, gave his Achilles tendon a run for its money. His tired calf muscles couldn’t absorb shock effectively, so now he’s stiff in the mornings.
Running
We see a lot of patients like this. Imagine a 30-year-old competitive runner who has been doing the right thing: progressively training and slowly increasing her mileage for an upcoming marathon.
But, even with correct training, her Achilles tendon started aching during her long runs. What could she possibly have done wrong? Well, any training regimen is better than none, but it doesn’t mean it’s right for your body. Even a slight increase in weekly mileage or introducing more hill training too quickly can overload the tendon.
Other factors that could have contributed are worn-out running shoes, tight calf muscles from inadequate stretching, or simply not enough rest in between workouts.
Standing
Achilles tendonitis can come even from standing. Imagine a 50 year old man who recently started a new job in retail, which requires him to stand on hard concrete floors for eight to ten hours a day. He rarely exercised before this. He initially felt general foot fatigue, but then a sharp pain developed just above his heel.
For this gentleman, Achilles tendonitis is a direct result of prolonged standing on unforgiving surfaces and lack of conditioning. Wearing the wrong shoes to work did not help his case either.
Recognizing the Signs of Achilles Tendonitis
No matter which example you most resonate with, the common symptoms of Achilles tendonitis to look out for include:
- Pain and stiffness along the Achilles tendon, especially in the morning.
- Pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest.
- Tenderness to touch along the tendon.
- Mild swelling around the tendon.
If you’re experiencing foot pain, discomfort, or changes in how you walk, come see the expert team at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists. With locations in Tucson and Oro Valley areas of Pima County, Arizona, Bradley A. Whitaker, D.P.M., FACFAS, Peter C. Merrill, D.P.M., AACFAS, and Zeno Pfau, D.P.M., are here for you. Call us at (520) 575-0800 or contact us online!
