Is one of your goals in the New Year to get in shape? If so, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most popular resolutions that our Middlesex county patients make. We at Feet First Foot Care Specialists are all in favor—as long as exercise activities are undertaken in a safe manner. Too often there is a tendency to start up a new fitness plan much too quickly. This can end in injury, pain and a short-lived resolution. The Achilles tendon is particularly susceptible to overuse injuries.

Signs of Achilles Tendonitis

Your Achilles tendon runs along the back of your lower leg and connects your heel bone to your calf muscle. It’s actually the largest tendon in your body and can withstand forces of 1,000 pounds or more, and yet it is also the most frequently injured tendon. Activities that put a strain on the tendon include stair climbing, hill running and rapidly increasing the speed and duration of an activity that involves running. The best exercise programs are those that start off at a low level of intensity and gradually increase in speed and duration over time. Periods of rest in between workouts are also necessary.

Signs that you may have overdone it with your Achilles tendon include:

  • Pain, which can be severe, anywhere along the tendon when running, or lasting several hours after you’ve stopped

  • Swelling

  • Morning tenderness at a point about an inch and half above where the tendon attaches to your heel bone
  • A general feeling of sluggishness in your lower leg
  • Stiffness in the calf

Treatment

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, contact our Cromwell office by calling (860) 632-5499 as soon as possible. Our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas will examine your foot and lower leg and determine if your Achilles tendon is inflamed. There are several treatment options available including rest, medication, custom orthotics and braces or bandages that restrict the motion of the tendon.

Left untreated, Achilles tendonitis can develop into a more serious condition where the tendon is damaged or even ruptures. So don’t delay, if you suspect an Achilles problem, please contact us promptly.

Questions or Comments?

We encourage you to contact us whenever you have an interest or concern about our services.

Call Today (860) 632-5499

162 West St Ste K Cromwell, CT 06416