Achilles Tendonitis Affects Your Every Step By Jeff Foster At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Your Achilles tendon is the large tendon that connects the gastrocnemius and soleus muscle and ties them to your heel bone.

Achilles tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendon. Like other maladies with the foot, when the Achilles tendon becomes inflamed with tendonitis it can be quite painful and even debilitating.

Many times the pain that develops in your Achilles tendon does so over a period of time without any definitive time frame of trauma.

With tendonitis your Achilles can even begin to degenerate; and it is because of this that you should not leave this condition untreated if you suspect tendonitis. The pain from Achilles tendonitis can range from burning, shooting, to even piercing. Many times the worst part of the pain is in the morning with your first few steps before your tendon has a chance to warm up and stretch out a bit. Prolonged standing can also aggravate the situation.

Because of the purpose that the Achilles tendon serves (with every step you take) treating the pain of tendonitis can be a difficult proposition – particularly if you have an active lifestyle or a career that keeps you actively on your feet throughout the course of the day.

The most common cause of Achilles tendonitis is tied to high levels of activity that puts stress on the tendon. However, over-pronation is really at the root of the cause. Over-pronation can occur in something as simple as just the process of walking. During over-pronation your arch flattens out and as a result extra pressure is transferred to the Achilles tendon; and as you can imagine this point of stress if repeated at a high frequency rate – since it is happening with every step.

Also, something as simple as improper shoe selection can lead to the onset of Achilles tendonitis. High heel shoes are not a good friend to your feet or your Achilles tendon, which explains why many times women suffer from such pain.

Prevention and treatment of tendonitis of the Achilles usually begins with daily stretching and warm up exercises particularly if you are going for a run or an extended walk. When you begin feeling pain in the Achilles area of your lower leg you should start treatment by limiting your activity as much as possible and applying ice to the area after periods of activity or strain.

Orthotics (specialized shoe inserts) can also provide welcome relief by cradling your heel in cups and thus reducing the stress.

If these conventional techniques don’t provide relief and your pain continues be sure to consult with your physician for a more detailed evaluation.

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