Check Price at Amazon. X Brian Richards is an attorney whose work has appeared in law and philosophy journals and online in legal blogs and article repositories. After I completely healed from minor Achilles inflammation, I hope I can resume my treadmill exercises. It has been estimated that it affects up to, Decreased strength or motion in your calf muscle, A visible limp when walking due to the pain of trying to bear weight on the affected foot, especially after exercise or activity, Difficulty or pain that is felt when trying to pull your toes up towards your shin (this may only be possible with the help of a towel because it can be difficult and even painful to do so). Elevation Elevating the affected leg can also help reduce pain and swelling. Last Updated: October 20, 2021 Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. Sometimes, Achilles tendonitis is caused when a bony growth develops on the heel or calcaneus bone, which is at the back of the ankle. Research source. How early must an acute Achilles tendon rupture be repaired? We use cookies to make wikiHow great. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Reach down and take hold of the toes on your right foot and pull back gently. By using our site, you agree to our. This helps reduce swelling. Cut the tape gently until you . For more ways to fix Achilles tendonitis from our Medical reviewer, like the best non-prescription pain relievers, read on! Compression wraps are an important part of treating Achilles tendonitis because they help reduce swelling and inflammation. Next, place a 2-inch section that will act as an anchor on the bottom part of your foot. There are several different types of wraps that can be used to treat Achilles tendonitis. Amazon.com: SNEINO Ankle Support Brace for Women & Men - 2 Pack In treating this injury, it is important to provide support to the tendon while it heals. You want the bandage to be medium tight. You should be able to breathe and relax with very little pain involved, Stretching before and after exercise will reduce risk of injury, If youre having trouble with some pain during stretching, warm up your muscles with heat or amassagebefore attempting. Injury. More common symptoms of Achilles tendonitis that may warrant a trip to the doctor include mild-to-moderate aches in the back of the leg or above the heel, especially after a sports activity or exercise. A special type of strengthening called "eccentric" strengthening, involving a slow let down of a weight after raising it, has been found to be especially helpful for persistent Achilles problems. While resting your Achilles tendon, switch to low-impact exercise options such as biking, elliptical exercises, and swimming. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Your Achilles tendon is the tendon that connects your calf muscle to your heel bone. Generally, heat will be helpful for pain and inflammation. The taping technique is similar for both. I now realize I. ", been almost 2 months now. Wrap tightly, but not so tight as to cut off circulation. You can find further instructions for this calf stretch exercise at: As you build strength, you can begin holding weights in order to increase strengthening as you perform this exercise. Use pillows to elevate your leg above your heart. Rest your tendon by avoiding running or climbing stairs for a few days to a few months, depending on the injury. 3 The growth may rub on the Achilles and cause pain and inflammation. However, they can also get stressed due to other injuries. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment. You should also seek help if you cannot point the affected foot downward. Did you know you can get premium answers for this article? Keep the ice on for 15-20 minutes at most. Download Article. Miguel Cunha, DPMBoard Certified Podiatrist For example, taking over-the-counter pain medication, like anti inflammatory medication, can help reduce pain. In this article, we will outline the dos and donts of how to wrap Achilles tendonitis to help alleviate the issues it can cause. Raise the affected foot above the level of your heart to reduce swelling. Preventing and Treating Calf Injuries - NFHS If several months of more-conservative treatments don't work or if the tendon has torn, your doctor may suggest surgery to repair your Achilles tendon. Get immediate medical care if you experience a lot of pain in your Achilles tendon, as this could mean a bad tear. Ankle Brace & Achilles Tendon Support Sleeve for Running & Everyday Accessed July 9, 2015. Both are signs of a ruptured tendon rather than simply tendonitis. % of people told us that this article helped them. Dr. Cunha is a foot and ankle surgeon with experience treating a wide array of foot and ankle conditions from minor problems to complex reconstructive foot and ankle surgery. An Achilles tendon is the thick tendon that connects your calf muscles to the back of your heel. Wrapping reduces swelling and limits the movement of the tendon when done correctly. It is important to keep the leg elevated above the level of the heart. Obviously, if K-taped works well, use it. They help reduce swelling and inflammation. What a wrap does is increase the core temperature of the muscle and adds some compression. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Next, apply an ice pack to your calf for 15 minutes as needed to reduce pain. If your pain is severe, your doctor may also recommend a recovery boot in order to keep the foot flexed and strain off the tendon. This will help ensure that the wrap is tight enough to provide compression but not too tight to cause pain. Place two strips of tape parallel to your tendon on each side of the tendon. If you've injured your Achilles, it's important to avoid strenuous exercise for at least the first four weeks of healing. Compression wraps help support the Achilles tendon and reduce stress on the tissue. Miguel Cunha, DPM. How to Tape an Ankle with Medical Tape or Kinesio Tape - Healthline The strength and flexibility in your tendon may have diminished during your injury. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Breathable Ankle Support Brace Foot Guard Sprains Injury Wrap Bandages Strap For at the best online prices at eBay! Below are the steps you can take to tape and protect the Achilles tendon with athletic tape: If you have a little trouble visualizing that, check out this video on how to tape your injured Achilles with athletic tape here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fQZj1SZkOM&t=221s, You can watch this video to see how to do it here: youtube.com/watch?v=T5NUbNkB_oA&t=11s. Injuries to the Achilles tendons can happen when you overuse them while doing exercising like running, jumping rope, etc. Place three or four strips of tape perpendicular to your tendon starting at the top of your heel and ending about one-third of the way up your calf. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. He or she will also evaluate the flexibility, alignment, range of motion and reflexes of your foot and ankle. The calf and leg bones muscle fibres are connected by the Achilles tendon. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment. The only other thing to take into consideration would be the mobility aspect. The best way to ice your achilles tendon is to freeze water in a plastic cup. This article was co-authored by Miguel Cunha, DPM. Achilles tendonitis is a condition that results when the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscle to the heel bone, becomes inflamed. Approved. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could Debridement and repair This operation removes the damaged portion of the Achilles tendon and is usually only for tendons with less than 50% damage. There are several things that can increase your risk of developing Achilles tendonitis, which include: Achilles tendonitis is often caused by repetitive stress on the tendon, such as from overuse during sports or exercise. How to Wrap Achilles Tendonitis: The Do's and Dont's Elastic Ankle Support Brace Foot Guard Sprains Injury Wrap Bandages Before your appointment, you may want to write a list of answers to the following questions: Be prepared to answer the following questions regarding your symptoms and factors that may be contributing to your condition: Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. These will help restrict your ankle from bending, which will give your tendon time to heal. Gulati V, Jaggard M, Al-nammari SS, et al. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Do such wraps work? Tendonitis - NHS If an over-the-counter medication is not controlling the pain satisfactorily, talk to your doctor. Self-care strategies include the following steps, often known by the acronym R.I.C.E. If the pain associated with your Achilles tendon is severe or if you experience a sudden disability with the flexion of your foot, then see a doctor immediately. Fields KB, ed. ", be good for someone who has a very recent injury. Accessed July 9, 2015. % of people told us that this article helped them. Cut strips of athletic tape and apply them horizontally across your achilles tendon. The condition is most often caused by overuse of the tendon or repetitive stress due to activities like walking, running, and jumping. Your Achilles tendon can be sore for days or even weeks, and there are specific ways to address this. I'd like to see that distinction made in your introduction. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/61\/Wrap-an-Achilles-Tendon-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Wrap-an-Achilles-Tendon-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/61\/Wrap-an-Achilles-Tendon-Step-1.jpg\/aid10168316-v4-728px-Wrap-an-Achilles-Tendon-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"