Swollen Achilles Tendon
Swollen Achilles tendon or Achilles tendonitis is very common in poorly-conditioned athletes. However, even non-athletes are also equally susceptible due to the everyday stress placed on feet.
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The high-impact activities that require abrupt stops or repetitive actions increase the risks of having Achilles tendonitis. These activities are:
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Jogging
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Basketball
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dancing
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Unsuitable footwear during any activity may also risk the foot and tendon to injury
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Congenital conditions may also come to play.
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Some people are borne with such tendon injury.
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Their legs and feet rotate in abnormal direction, which causes the arch of the feet to be flat, and their legs to twist more.
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The gastrocnemius and soleus will stretch and tighten so much that it will increase the stress placed on the Achilles tendon, thereby, causing the tendonitis
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Shoes can also be a factor in contracting Achilles tendonitis especially if there is abrupt changes in the shoe, for example, from wearing high heels to flat shoes.
Swollen Achilles Symptoms
Swollen Achilles or Achilles tendonitis is a condition that does not occur overnight. More often than not, the injury does not show itself immediately. Some of the symptoms of swollen Achilles are:
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Experiencing mild pain initially. The pain worsens over time especially, if the strenuous activities continue.
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The first stage of the injury is known as peritenonitis, which has no noticeable symptoms, except pain during activity or while having rest.
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The second stage is called tendonitis, in which case, the patient may start to feel some swelling on the back of the leg .
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The tendon may rupture if activities continue in the ensuing days.
Swollen Achilles Tendon Treatment
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Swollen Achilles tendon is a debilitating medical condition of a foot in which the Achilles tendons are swollen.
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The Achilles tendon or known by its other moniker heel cord is the largest and strongest tendon in the body.
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Athletes are particularly vulnerable to Achilles tendonitis.
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It is also caused by:
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High impact activities
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Congenital conditions
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Shoes
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Achilles tendonitis is diagnosed after conducting physical examination, Thompson test, and imaging test.
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Treatment includes asking the patient to stop activities that cause the swelling of the tendons until they are healed.
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For 20 minutes every hour for two days, the affected area is applied with ice pack to reduce the swelling.
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If after a few days, the swelling does not subside, the doctor may advise for basic rehabilitation and perform training and stretching techniques.