If you have Achilles Tendonitis, your doctor may recommend a Stretching
Aid to relieve pain
Achilles tendonitis is a condition that can be caused by tight
calf muscles. The condition affects the leg's tendon and causes
pain just above the heel bone. The pain can be felt during exercise
as well as when simply walking. Your doctor may recommend stretching
exercises as well as a stretching aid to relieve pain. What causes
Achilles tendonitis? The condition may be the result of poor stretching
before exercise or a sudden increase in physical activities. Other
factors that may lead to the condition include having flat feet
and wearing poor footwear.
In addition to pain, symptoms of Achilles tendonitis include mild
swelling in the area. Other symptoms include tendon thickening in
the affected leg, a crackling noise with ankle movement and small
lumps along the tendon. The small lumps are the result of scar tissue
around the tendon.
To relieve pain associated with the condition, your physician may
recommend the following:
- Rest.
- Icing the area.
- Using a heel lift in footwear to reduce pressure on the tendon
while it heals.
- Gentle stretching exercises with the use of a stretching aid.
Using a stretching aid
Your physician may recommend a stretching aid to promote pain relief
as well as prevent further injury to the tendon. A variety of stretching
aids are available. Your physician or podiatrist can recommend the
type of aids for stretching you should use.
What if initial treatments, including the stretching aid, don't
work?
In many cases, foot stretch aids are very helpful. However, if
the foot aid and other initial treatments don't relieve pain, there
are other treatments available. Your physician may recommend physical
therapy or an immobilization cast. Surgery is recommended only in
extreme cases.
For more information as well as stretching
aids, see product menu at right.
|
