Home Bones, Joints and Muscles Inflamed Achilles tendon: causes, treatment and remedies

Inflamed Achilles tendon: causes, treatment and remedies

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

The Achilles tendon is the thickest tendon in the human body. The practice of some sports, such as athletics or running daily, increases the chances of suffering an injury to this tendon. This lesion is seen more frequently in men than in women and occurs to a greater extent with advancing age.

Achilles tendon inflammation can occur for various causes, as we will explain below. FastlyHealin this article, you will learn much more about the Endon Achilles inflamed: causes, treatment and remedies.

Inflamed Achilles tendon: causes

There are several causes of Achilles tendon inflammation , including:

  • Overuse of the foot: This is seen in young people, especially in joggers or walkers.
  • When running on hard surfaces.
  • Use of footwear that does not provide adequate support to the foot.
  • In those athletes who practice basketball due to the jumps they perform during training.
  • When the foot repeatedly and suddenly turns inward or outward, which can lead to inflammation of the Achilles tendon.
  • The presence of diseases, such as arthritis , can cause tendon and joint injury in middle-aged and elderly people.
  • An infectious or traumatic process can lead to inflammation and injury of the Achilles tendon.

Achilles tendon inflammation symptoms

Symptoms that can accompany an inflamed Achilles tendon are:

  • Pain in the heel region, which occurs when running or walking. This is characteristic when standing on tiptoe or when performing flexion-extension movements of the ankle.
  • Discomfort accompanied by stiffness during the mornings, this decreases as the day progresses. It can also appear during the activity and can return when it is finished.
  • Presence of a calcaneal spur in the posterior region of the heel.
  • Increased volume in the heel and a sensation of heat in the area.
  • Difficulty wearing footwear.

Inflamed Achilles tendon: risk factors

The risk of suffering from Achilles tendon inflammation is increased in the following cases:

  • Age: As you get older, the risk of Achilles tendonitis increases.
  • Sex: men are more likely to suffer from this disorder.
  • Physical training: during physical training, you should wear shoes in good condition in addition to avoiding cold weather during training. Also, running in mountainous places increases the risk of Achilles tendon injuries.
  • Physical disorders: people with flat feet, obese and with muscular stiffness at the calf level increase the pressure at the tendon level, further aggravating the injury.
  • Diseases such as psoriasis and high blood pressure increase the risk of Achilles tendon injuries.
  • Consumption of some medications: the consumption of some antibiotics, such as Fluoroquinolone, has been associated with high levels of inflammation of the Achilles tendon.

Diagnosis of Achilles tendon inflammation

The diagnosis of this lesion is based on the clinical history that the patient presents. The trauma doctor is the one trained to perform the physical examination to detect pain and tenderness in the tendon. To do this, it will request the necessary studies according to the symptoms that you present, among them, you can find:

  • Ultrasound: through this study, both the soft tissues and the tendons can be evaluated.
  • X-rays: although the soft tissues cannot be evaluated with X-rays, it can be done to rule out another existing pathology in the Achilles heel area.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging: through this study, the Achilles tendon is excellently visualized, thus contributing to an accurate diagnosis of this alteration.

How to cure inflamed Achilles tendon: medical treatment

Once the diagnosis is established, the doctor will indicate the treatment to follow. Initially, an attempt will be made to implement a treatment to eliminate pain and inflammation for 2 or 3 months.

The first thing is to indicate non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , along with certain measures such as:

  • Elevation of the affected leg.
  • Repose.
  • Place cold compresses to reduce the inflammation of the Achilles tendon.
  • Use of enriched plasma: this technique consists of extracting blood from the patient, it is subjected to centrifugation to obtain the plasma, which can be injected into the inflamed area. In this way, it helps to repair tissues and, at the same time, rejuvenate them.
  • Apply physiotherapy: this consists of the application of a set of techniques, such as electrotherapy, ultrasound, strengthening exercises and reeducation of gait, as well as physical activity to strengthen the calves.

Each and every one of these techniques helps to eliminate symptoms and strengthen the Achilles tendon.

Remedies for a swollen Achilles tendon

There are a wide variety of home remedies that are at your fingertips with excellent anti-inflammatory properties that help alleviate the symptoms of inflammation of the Achilles Tendon, here are some of them:

  • Ginger: has antioxidant properties, as well as anti-inflammatory, so it reduces pain and inflammation in the affected area. You must prepare a tea with this root, 1 cup and ½ of water is boiled and a tablespoon of ginger slices is added. Next, let it boil for 10 minutes, let it rest so that you can drink 2 or 3 cups during the day. In a very short time, you will see the results.
  • Apple cider vinegar: Due to its alkalizing and even anti-inflammatory properties, it is a home remedy used to relieve inflammation and pain in the Achilles tendon. This remedy can be used in two ways: in a tub, place hot water, then add a cup of apple cider vinegar and introduce the injured leg for about 20 to 30 minutes once a day until improvement is achieved. You can ingest it by adding 1 or 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and a teaspoon of honey, this can be taken 2 times a day and you will obtain excellent results.
  • Castor oil: this oil contains ricinoleic acid with excellent anti-inflammatory properties. You can apply it topically to the affected area 2 or 3 times a day until you see improvement.
  • Turmeric: This is a spice that contains curcumin, a substance with an anti-inflammatory effect used to alleviate the symptoms of inflammation of the Achilles tendon. Turmeric is a powder that you can add 1 teaspoon to a cup of boiling water for 5 minutes, let it rest and sweeten it with honey. You can take it 2 times a day until the symptoms disappear.

Other recommendations to cure Achilles tendonitis

  • Application of cold compresses: these help reduce pain, you must place them on the heel for 10 to 15 minutes, this can be repeated during the day as many times as necessary.
  • Elastic bandages : these bandages produce compression and, thereby, reduce the tension present in the muscles in the area, at the same time reducing pain and inflammation. Both the foot and the leg are wrapped in an elastic bandage, it is recommended to keep the latter elevated to reduce blood flow to that area. The bandages are left on for a few days until symptoms improve.
  • Massages: through this technique, circulation in the heel region is improved, muscles are relaxed and pain and swelling are reduced. These massages are applied with oils such as castor, coconut, olive and mustard. You can massage the area for 10 to 15 minutes as many times as necessary during the day.
  • Consumption of vitamin E: this vitamin is an excellent antioxidant, it contributes to the disappearance of pain and swelling by eliminating free radicals, in addition, it improves circulation.
  • Acupuncture: it is an ancient technique used with excellent results in the inflammation of the Achilles tendon, it helps to improve swelling and to return to physical activity in a very short time. With this technique, it is possible to increase the blood volume and oxygen saturation in the Achilles tendon.

In the following article, you can also see effective exercises for Achilles tendonitis .

The inflamed Achilles tendon is an alteration that limits the physical activity of the sufferer, so it is important to verify the causes to make an accurate diagnosis and start the appropriate treatment to reverse the symptoms in the shortest possible time and obtain the best results. for the patient.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Inflamed Achilles Tendon: causes, treatment and remedies , we recommend that you enter our Bones, Joints and Muscles category .

You may also like

Leave a Comment