Why does the Achilles tendon hurt and how to treat it. Treatment for inflammation of the Achilles tendon

The Achilles, or heel tendon, is considered the strongest in the human body. It bears a colossal load, making it vulnerable to various types of damage. Most often it becomes inflamed in athletes due to excessive physical exertion, but anyone can face this problem. To be fully armed, you need to know how the pathology manifests itself and how to treat the Achilles tendon at home.

Why does Achilles inflammation occur and how does it manifest?

A typical reason for the development of an inflammatory process in the Achilles tendon is its stretching, leading to rupture of the fibers as a result of excessive loads. Gap connective tissue occurs due to short rest between sports training, which does not allow them to recover. There are a number of other factors that provoke inflammation of the Achilles:

age-related decrease in the elasticity of collagen and elastin fibers that make up the tendon;
flat feet with the foot turning inward (overpronation);
wearing uncomfortable shoes, as well as walking in high heels for women;
calcaneal growth (Haglund deformity);
congenital pathologies, for example, shortening of the foot, different leg lengths, etc.;
pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.

In addition, the tendon ligament can become inflamed due to infection, metabolic disorders and previous foot injuries.

The inflammatory process can develop inside the fibers, in the area of the junction of bone and tendon, and in surrounding tissues.

The following symptoms will help you recognize the pathology yourself:

severe pain that manifests itself during movement and becomes permanent;
swelling and redness of the affected area;
crunching in the shin area when moving;
increase in temperature in the damaged area.

In addition, inflammation of the heel tendon is often accompanied by a general increase in body temperature. However, the symptoms in each patient manifest themselves individually, depending on the degree of damage and the characteristics of the body.

What to do if your heel tendon is injured

An elastic bandage will help reduce pain

If you experience sharp, increasing pain in the Achilles tendon area, as well as a severe headache, accompanied by dizziness and darkening of the eyes, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. The specialist will determine the severity of the injury and prescribe appropriate treatment. When a tendon ruptures, it is rarely possible to do without surgical treatment.

Important! Delay will complicate the situation and lead to serious consequences.

When a tendon is sprained, first apply a cabbage leaf, make a tight bandage from an elastic bandage and wrap your leg in a blanket (plaid, woolen scarf).

It is important to ensure that the limbs are in a state of rest.

After an hour, change the cabbage leaf and repeat the procedure.

You can apply it to your ankle for half an hour raw potatoes, peeled and cut into slices. Wrap the affected tendon with gauze, place the potatoes on it and place the leg in a warm place. This compress will normalize blood circulation and relieve tension in the damaged area.

Treatment methods at home

Inflammation of the Achilles tendon is treated and folk remedies. Immediately after first aid for a sprain, do not put any weight on your leg. Move less and use crutches, a cane, or other means of support when moving.

Will help restore the tendon faster proper nutrition. You need to consume more dairy products, cheese and other foods rich in calcium.

An excellent remedy for treating Achilles tendon at home would be healthy drink from goat's milk with honey (1 tbsp per glass of milk). It improves overall well-being and restores strength. Drink healing mixture You can do it at night or at lunchtime and in the evening.

Remember that you can treat inflammation at home only after a doctor has made a diagnosis.

Drug treatment

For inflammation of the Achilles, anesthetics and NSAIDs are prescribed

The main symptom accompanying inflammation of the heel tendon, a sharp pain syndrome, is relieved with anesthetics. At home you can take tablets, suppositories, and also use local drugs: ointments, creams, gels.

When treating inflammation of the Achilles tendon, drugs are selected individually in each individual case. Anti-inflammatory drugs help well non-steroidal drugs(NSAIDs/NSAIDs) in combination with painkillers.

Most often prescribed combination drugs for the treatment of inflammation:

Diclofenac;
Nimesulide;
Naklofen;
Nimesil.

Penetrating into tissues and maintaining the healing effect long time, they relieve inflammation well, relieve pain and have an antipyretic effect.

When diagnosing an extensive inflammatory process, a course of antibacterial agents is prescribed.

At home, anti-inflammatory ointments are actively used for inflammation of the Achilles tendon. Well proven:

Collagen ultra;
Solcoseryl;
Dolobene gel;
Voltaren.

They are available in the form of an ointment/gel and are used for 5-7 days after removing the bandage.

Immediately after a calcaneal tendon injury, you can apply a cooling gel that easily penetrates the skin, quickly relieves swelling and lowers the temperature.

Treatment with folk remedies

Inflammation of the Achilles tendon can be treated with folk remedies. Alternative medicine stores great amount effective recipes, proven over the years.

Ice massage. Fill several small plastic/glass containers (glasses will do) with water and place them in the freezer. As soon as the liquid freezes, take out the container and move the icy surface formed in the upper part of the container over the affected tendon for 10-15 minutes. Repeat the procedure 2-3 times a day.
Homemade (household) plaster will quickly relieve pain and swelling. You will need the white of a raw chicken egg and 1 tbsp. l. alcohol (vodka). Add ethanol to the whipped egg white, shake, add a pinch of flour. Spread the creamy mixture onto an elastic bandage, wrap it around the area of inflammation, and walk for a day until it hardens completely. There is no need to bandage tightly. It is recommended to change the “gypsum” mixture every day.
Saline dressings. Stir 1 tbsp. l. salt in 250 ml. water. Wet the napkin, then squeeze it thoroughly, wrap it in a plastic bag and place it in the freezer for an hour. Wrap the frozen bag with a bandage, without tightening it, to the inflamed area, wear until the bandage dries.
Lavender oil. Mix half a glass of vegetable oil with 2-3 tbsp. l. dry lavender mixture. Shake it, then place it in a warm place for 7-10 days. Lubricate the damaged area with prepared lavender oil 2-3 times a day for a week.
Infusion of comfrey and calendula. 1 tbsp. l. add herbs to a large glass of hot water and bring to a boil. Let it brew for 6-8 hours, then 1 tbsp. l. Dilute the broth in 300 ml of water. Lightly wring out the gauze napkin soaked in the infusion and tie it to the sore spot.
Ointment from calendula flowers. Mix dry crushed flowers of the plant with baby cream. Lubricate the affected areas before going to bed and they will hurt less.
Onion. Pass 2-3 medium onions through a meat grinder and mix with 2 tbsp. l. sea salt. Place the resulting pulp on gauze (bandage), apply a compress to the inflamed area for about a week.

Helps quickly restore the Achilles tendon A complex approach and strict adherence to the doctor’s recommendations. The use of folk remedies in combination with medications will help you quickly cure and return to your usual and active image life.

To prevent damage to the heel tendon, you need to constantly take care of the health of your feet, adhering to simple rules:

wear comfortable shoes;
after a hard one working day do a foot massage;
Start each exercise session with a warm-up;
do not overcool your feet;
don't overuse heavy physical labor;
balance your physical activity.

If you follow the above tips, pain in the Achilles tendon area will never bother you.

Microtraumas.
Age-related changes.
Uncomfortable shoes.

Local hyperthermia.
Slight swelling.
Crunchy sound.

Appearance

Pain in the tendon area.
Redness.
Swelling in the heel area.

Painkillers.

Magnetotherapy.
Laser therapy.
Ultrasound therapy.
Shock wave therapy.
Electrophoresis with lidase.
Mud applications.

Decrease in elasticity with age. The tendon contains collagen and elastic fibers, which make it strong and stretchable. The older a person gets, the more these indicators decrease, and stress can lead to ruptures or damage to tendon fibers. This is precisely why after 35 years any training should begin with a warm-up.
Heavy loads. As a rule, athletes are exposed to them. Excessive training leads to overstrain of the tendon. A short rest period does not allow the tissues to recover sufficiently and fiber rupture may occur.
Flat feet with overpronation, when the foot falls inward. When walking in this position, the tendon is stretched more and can be injured.
Uncomfortable shoes, especially for sports training. Incorrect load distribution occurs, which can lead to the development of this pathology. Women's love for high heels can result in the formation of Achilles tendonitis. Treatment in this case is also necessary.
A lump on the heel (Haglund's deformity) where the tendon attaches.
Infectious diseases can also trigger the development of pathology.
Some bone and joint problems, such as arthritis. Different leg lengths.
The cause of the development of pathology can be gout, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease.

Spicy.
Chronic.

Gradual increase in pain.
During exercise, the pain becomes stronger, even warming up and warming up do not help.
Rest also does not relieve pain; you can already feel it immediately after waking up.
When going down or going up stairs, pain develops.

The tendon thickens.
Excessive tension is felt in the calf muscles.
Mobility may be limited in the ankle area.
Pain may be felt throughout the tendon or just in the heel area.
There may be a squeaking sound while driving ankle joint.
It becomes increasingly difficult to bend the foot and stand on the toes.

Peritendinitis is manifested by an inflammatory process in the surrounding soft tissues.
Tendinitis - the Achilles tendon itself is affected, the adjacent tissues are not affected.
Enthesopathy. With this form of the disease, a degenerative process develops at the border with the bone, and a heel spur may appear.

Physical examination. The doctor palpates and determines the places where the pain is felt most.
Radiation diagnostics, but in the absence of calcifications it will not help make an accurate diagnosis.
An MRI will help determine the presence of ruptures.
Ultrasound. It can be used to determine the need for surgical intervention.
An X-ray examination is also carried out, it shows the location of the inflammatory process.

Conservative therapy.
Drug treatment.
Traditional methods of therapy.
Physiotherapeutic procedures.
Surgical intervention.

Apply a splint or plaster.
Use an elastic bandage.
Taping.
Application of orthoses that can partially or completely limit movement.

Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - Nimesil, Naklofen.
If extensive inflammation occurs, antibiotic therapy may be required.
To relieve pain, you can apply a compress at night using Analgin, Novocaine, or inject an anesthetic.
If Achilles tendonitis is diagnosed, treatment with ointments is also possible. For this purpose, Voltaren, Dolobene gel, and Solcoseryl are often used.

Magnetotherapy.
Laser treatment.
Ultrasound treatment.
Shock wave therapy.

Electrophoresis.
Mud applications.

Ice massage. To do this, take plastic cups and pour water into them and place them in the freezer. When the liquid freezes, top part containers massage the injured area for 15-20 minutes several times a day.
"Homemade plaster." Need to beat chicken protein and add 1 tablespoon of alcohol or vodka. Beat well and add a tablespoon of flour. Apply the mixture to an elastic bandage and bandage the sore spot. This bandage needs to be changed every day, it will help relieve swelling and painful sensations.
Traditional healers recommend adding turmeric to your diet. The curcumin it contains helps relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
Usage saline dressings. Must be in a glass first warm water dissolve a tablespoon of salt. Soak a napkin in the liquid, squeeze it out, wrap it in a bag and place it in the freezer for a few minutes. Apply to the sore spot and bandage it, hold until the napkin is completely dry.

Prepare an infusion of a tablespoon of comfrey, calendula and 250 ml of hot water. Bring to a boil, leave for several hours, then dilute 1 tablespoon of infusion in 300 ml of water and apply a bandage to the injured area.
Elecampane compress. You need to take 3 tablespoons of the herb and pour 0.5 liters of hot water, boil for 15 minutes. Soak a napkin in the broth and apply to the sore spot.
Using pine twigs to prepare baths. You need to take a bucket and fill two-thirds with pine branches, pour cold water and boil for half an hour. Then you need to leave for 2-3 hours and take baths for 15-20 minutes.
Use a mixture of 2 drops of fir and lavender oils, and also add a teaspoon of any vegetable.
Wormwood tincture has a general strengthening effect on the body and relieves inflammation. To prepare it, you need to take 2 tablespoons of dry herb and pour 250 ml of boiling water, after 30 minutes of infusion, take a tablespoon several times a day.

Calendula ointment will help cope with the inflammatory process. It’s quite simple to prepare: just mix in equal quantities baby cream and calendula flowers. It is best to apply to the affected area at night.
Take equal amounts of pork fat and wormwood ointment, combine and melt over fire. After cooling, it can be applied to the affected area.
You can make an ointment from clay. To do this, take 500 g of clay and dilute it in water to the consistency of mastic, and then add 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Then moisten a napkin in the resulting composition and apply to the sore spot for an hour. The course of therapy is up to 6 procedures and helps get rid of pain and swelling.

Thus, if a diagnosis of Achilles tendinitis is made, treatment with folk remedies will help you quickly return to your normal lifestyle.

Walking comes first; for this you need to choose comfortable shoes and, while moving, perform a smooth roll from heel to toe. Walking time, speed and step length should be increased gradually.
It is recommended to do calf raises and half squats.
Exercising in water helps recovery well. The body loses most of its weight, so those exercises that cannot be done in the gym at a certain period can be safely performed in the water.
You can go jogging only after a good warm-up.
It is useful to perform exercises to stretch the calf muscles and tendons; to do this, stand near a wall, lean on your hands, and put your injured leg back and rest on your toes. Remain in this position for 30 seconds.
Stand on the edge of the platform and squat. This exercise improves the strength and elasticity of the Achilles tendon.

With age, the elasticity of the tendon decreases, so after 40 years it is necessary to lead an active lifestyle and include in a set of exercises those that will help use the calf muscles.
When playing sports or any kind of exercise, you should not immediately start the main exercises; you need to do a warm-up and a stretching routine.
All athletes must ensure compliance with the training regimen; muscles should not be overloaded.
For any sports activity, you need to choose the right shoes.

The tendon is the point of connection muscle tissue with bone. It consists of connective tissue, which in cross section is a connection of collagen fibers. Main feature The tendon has high compressive strength and minimal tensile strength.

There are different types of tendons:

short;
long;
rounded;
wide;
narrow;
ribbon-shaped;
cord-like;
lamellar.

In the human body there are a large number of different tendons, each of which performs its own function.

The Achilles tendon is a tendon that is located on the back of the lower leg. Its main function is connection calf muscle And calcaneus.

The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the human body. and as a result, it bears a huge burden. Most often, those at risk for Achilles tendon inflammation include people who run. It is running that gives high load, often exceeding the permissible limit.

Pain and inflammation in the Achilles tendon area can occur for many reasons:

Wearing high-heeled shoes every day. In this case, the Achilles tendon becomes shortened, and switching to another type of shoe will be uncomfortable and painful. If you ignore the symptoms, the development of achillesitis is likely.
Shortened tendon at birth. Over time, the Achilles tendon can be stretched using physical therapy or in the worst case, using surgical operation. In addition, inflammation can develop due to flat feet and metabolic disorders.
Excessive load on the Achilles tendon during sports. With an advanced diagnosis, there is huge probability development of serious complications.
Infection through the lymph flow or blood.
Loss of fiber elasticity in adulthood (around 40 years of age) can lead to damage from low loads.

Based on the area of inflammation, the disease can be divided into three types:

Inflammation of the substance surrounding the tendon.
Inflammation of the internal substance of the tendon.
Inflammation of the junction of bone and tendon.

You can diagnose inflammation yourself based on the following symptoms:

Pain when moving in the tendon area. It is progressive and can lead to loss of ability to move.
Swelling in the tendon area due to tissue thickening.
Redness.
High temperature in the tendon area.
Crunching in the lower legs when moving.

The most important thing in the treatment of Achilles tendon is to establish exact reason inflammation. To make a correct diagnosis, you need to consult a specialist. If left untreated, subsequent rupture of the Achilles tendon is possible.

First of all, if tendon inflammation is detected, it is necessary to reduce physical activity and, if possible, adhere to bed rest. Then you need to fix the leg in the correct position using an elastic bandage or plaster.

There are many proven folk recipes for treating tendon inflammation.

Treatment of inflammation of the Achilles tendon with herbal tinctures

Tincture of elecampane.

Brew a small amount of herbs hot water and leave for 12 hours. Apply as a compress.

Tincture of pine branches.

Fill a container with a volume of up to 5 liters with dry chopped branches a little more than halfway. Pour water and cook for half an hour. Let the broth brew. Use for foot baths.

Elderberry tincture.

Fill a container with a volume of up to 5 liters with dry chopped branches a little more than halfway. Pour water and cook for half an hour. After completing the boiling process, add one spoon of soda to the broth. Cool. Use for foot baths.

Tincture of hay dust.

Fill a 3-liter container with 1/3 hay dust. Pour water and cook for half an hour. Leave for 15 minutes. Use as a compress or foot bath.

Treatment of inflammation of the Achilles tendon with oils

The following oil mixtures are suitable for relieving inflammation:

Lavender + sunflower.
Lavender + fir + sunflower.
Lavender + geranium + cloves.

It is necessary to lubricate the tendon twice a day with the recommended mixtures. Oils can be purchased at a pharmacy or prepared at home.

Treating inflammation of the Achilles tendon with onion or wormwood

Wormwood and onion are great for relieving inflammation:

Chop the onion or wormwood.
Mix with a spoon of salt or sugar.
Apply as a compress to the affected area for a week.

Treatment of inflammation of the Achilles tendon with ointment

Mix baby cream with calendula flowers. Lubricate the sore spot and cover it with a bandage at night.

Treatment of tendon inflammation using clay compresses

Mix half a kilogram of dry clay with water and a small amount of apple cider vinegar until a homogeneous consistency is formed. Apply the resulting mixture to the sore spot for a week at night, wrapping it in a bandage.

Treatment of inflammation of the Achilles tendon with ointments and gels

Gels and ointments are widely available, easy to use and fast-acting.

Unlike tinctures, decoctions and compresses, when using ointments and gels there is no need to spend time preparing the medicine.

Ointments and gels:

improve blood circulation in the inflamed area;
strengthen the walls of blood vessels and capillaries;
have anti-inflammatory, warming, healing and analgesic effects.

Most effective drugs in the form of ointments and gels:

troxevasin ointment;
Voltaren ointment;
Dolobene-gel;
Solcoseryl;
Fastum-gel.

The best prevention for inflammation of the Achilles tendon is:

Warm up before training. Before playing sports, you need to do stretching and warming up exercises (this will help avoid sprains and damage to the tendons).
Fix the joint with an elastic bandage when the first pain appears.
Wearing comfortable shoes.
Proper nutrition rich in nutrients.
Developing tendons in adulthood through muscle stretching and physical activity.

If you follow these five rules, you won't have to worry about the condition of your Achilles tendon.

If the disease nevertheless overtakes you, it is important to remember that correct diagnosis and only a specialist can recognize the nature of its occurrence.

Achilles tendonitis

Achilles tendonitis– inflammatory process in the Achilles tendon area.

It can develop due to constant overload of the calf muscle (in athletes and people engaged in heavy physical labor) or due to excessive single load on an unprepared tendon (in people 40-60 years old, associated with age-related tendon rigidity).

It manifests itself as pain, swelling and slight limitation of dorsiflexion of the foot. The diagnosis is made based on symptoms, MRI and radiography. Treatment is conservative.

Achilles tendonitis is inflammation of the Achilles tendon. More often detected in athletes, it is a consequence of overload, incorrect technique or violation of the training regimen.

Can be diagnosed in people 40-60 years old after a single intense load Achilles tendon (for example, when trying to run), high probability The development of tendinitis in such cases is due to the increasing rigidity of the Achilles tendon with age and a slight decrease in the range of motion in the ankle joint.

In clinical traumatology, three forms of tendinitis are distinguished. Peritendinitis is inflammation of the tissues surrounding the Achilles tendon. Tendinitis is inflammation of the tendon itself, leading to its degeneration.

Enthesopathy is an inflammatory process localized in the area of attachment of the Achilles tendon to the heel bone, which can be accompanied by the formation of heel spurs and foci of calcification in the tendon tissue.

All three forms of the disease can occur in isolation, occur simultaneously, or transform into one another.

The disease develops gradually. Initially, the patient feels pain in the Achilles tendon area only in the first minutes of exercise or training. After warming up, the pain decreases and completely disappears with rest.

When palpating the affected area, some discomfort appears, but pain is usually absent. If left untreated, the disease eventually progresses to chronic form.

Over the course of several weeks or months, the pain increases. Unlike the initial stage, after warming up the pain does not decrease, but intensifies.

Even a long rest does not bring relief; some patients are bothered by pain after a night's sleep.

Many patients report pain when going up or down stairs or an inclined surface.

Upon examination, tension in the calf muscle, thickening of the Achilles tendon, local hyperemia and a local increase in skin temperature in the affected area are revealed. The range of motion in the ankle joint is somewhat limited.

With peritendinitis, pain is usually localized throughout the tendon, with tendinitis - 2-6 cm above the heel, with enthesopathy - in the area of attachment of the tendon or just above it.

The diagnosis is made based on complaints and external examination data. Additional research methods include radiography of the lower leg and ankle joint, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound of the ankle joint.

In some cases, radiographs reveal foci of calcification. With tendinitis, they are “scattered” throughout the tendon; with enthesopathy, they are localized mainly in its lower part.

The absence of calcifications is not a basis for confirming or denying the diagnosis of tendinitis.

Ultrasound and MRI are more accurate methods that allow detailed examination soft fabrics, identify foci of inflammation and areas of degenerative changes.

In addition, MRI of the ankle joint makes it possible to detect the acute stage of inflammation - at this stage, a large amount of fluid accumulates in the tendon tissue, but external swelling is little or absent, which complicates clinical diagnosis.

Treatment of tendinitis is predominantly conservative and is carried out on an outpatient basis in an emergency room. In the acute phase, rest, elevated position of the limb and tight bandaging while walking are indicated.

In the first days of illness, cold should be applied to the affected area.

To eliminate pain, eliminate the inflammatory process and restore tendon function, the patient is prescribed NSAIDs for a period of no more than 7-10 days.

After the pain syndrome has been eliminated or significantly reduced, therapeutic exercises begin.

The exercise therapy program for tendonitis includes light strengthening and stretching exercises that help restore the tendon and strengthen the calf muscle. Subsequently, resistance exercises are gradually introduced.

Along with exercise therapy, physiotherapeutic procedures are used to restore the tendon: electrical stimulation, electrophoresis and ultrasound therapy.

A massage is used to improve blood circulation, strengthen and stretch the tendon. In case of hallux valgus or varus deformity of the foot, the patient is recommended to wear special braces for the ankle joint.

Fixation using a plaster cast is used very rarely - only for severe constant pain in the tendon area.

In case of particularly persistent pain syndrome, therapeutic blockades with glucocorticoid drugs are sometimes performed.

Glucocorticoids are injected only into the surrounding tissue; injections into the tendon itself or its insertion site are strictly prohibited, since these drugs can stimulate degenerative processes and provoke tendon rupture.

Surgical intervention is indicated when conservative therapy is ineffective for six months or more. The operation is carried out as planned in a traumatology or orthopedic department.

A midline incision is made, a skin incision is made along the back surface of the leg, the Achilles tendon is isolated, the degenerative tissue is examined and excised.

If during the intervention it was necessary to excise 50% or more of the Achilles tendon tissue, the removed areas are replaced with the plantaris tendon.

In the postoperative period, immobilization is carried out for 4-6 weeks using an orthosis or a plaster cast. Stepping on the foot is allowed after 2-4 weeks, and rehabilitation measures are carried out for 6 weeks.

Source: http://www.krasotaimedicina.ru/diseases/traumatology/achilles-tendinitis

In most cases the reason inflammation of the Achilles tendon is wearing uncomfortable shoes for a long time. Most often, the inflammatory process occurs in athletes and dancers, whose feet bear a large load.

Another cause of inflammation may be impaired metabolism.

As a result of the fact that there is a large amount of fats and cholesterol in the blood, as well as in the presence of gout, an acute inflammatory process may develop due to the fact that urate microcrystals begin to be deposited in the tissues of the body.

In addition, pain in the tendon area can occur due to diseases of the bones or joints, in the presence of a heel spur or an inflammatory process in the arch of the foot.

Factors that can lead to inflammation include:

Microtraumas.
Chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Incorrectly formed tendon.
Age-related changes.
Flat feet, which is characterized by the presence of hyperpronation.
Uncomfortable shoes.

The main symptom of an inflammatory process in the Achilles tendon is pain in the heel area or under the calves.

In most cases, pain occurs after a long rest, that is, after sleep, when a person gets up and starts walking.

This is explained by the fact that during sleep the tendon relaxes and the pain subsides, but when a load appears, the pain manifests itself and prevents you from taking a normal step. In addition, there may be other symptoms:

Thickening and redness of the skin may be found in the tendon area.
Local hyperthermia.
Slight swelling.
Crunchy sound.

Appearance pain in the bones, in the Achilles area tendon may indicate the development of not only Achilles tendinitis, but also other diseases, such as bursitis or arthrosis of the foot.

Fluid in the Achilles tendon may manifest itself with the following symptoms:

Pain in the tendon area.
Redness.
Swelling in the heel area.
Movement in the ankle and ankle is significantly difficult.

How to treat Achilles tendon? When identifying an inflammatory process, the first thing you need to do is:

Avoid stress on the tendon.
Apply cold compresses for 10 minutes throughout the day.
Limit movement in the tendon. To do this, you can use an elastic bandage and wear low-heeled shoes.

First of all, after examining the patient, the doctor prescribes x-ray, where you can see whether there really is inflammation of the Achilles tendon. If inflammation is present, the doctor may prescribe:

Painkillers.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
In some cases, antibiotics may be prescribed.

Medicines may be given as tablets or injections that are given directly near the tendon.

How to treat inflammation of the Achilles heel joint by using traditional medicine? You can try to cure inflammation of the Achilles tendon using traditional medicine. However, before using any methods, you should consult a doctor, since self-medication is harmful to the body. Among the methods of traditional treatment are:

The spice curcumin is a natural antibiotic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. You need to eat about 0.5 g per day.
Tincture of walnut partitions with vodka. To prepare it, you need to take 0.5 liters of vodka and 1 glass of nut partitions. Mix and leave for 20 days. After this, this remedy can be taken 2 times a day, 1 tsp.
Oil solution of mountain resin mumiyo. This remedy can be rubbed into the tendon area, and also taken orally 0.1-0.5 g of resin, which is dissolved in warm milk. This can be done for 2 weeks, after which a 10-day break is required.
Pine-salt foot baths.
Ice massage. To do this, you need to massage the tendon area with pieces of ice.

In combination with drug treatment, the inflammatory process can be treated with physiotherapy, which includes the following methods:

Magnetotherapy.
Laser therapy.
Ultrasound therapy.
Shock wave therapy.
Electrophoresis with lidase.
Mud applications.

To prevent inflammation of the tendon, it is necessary to prevent the disease:

It is necessary to stretch the tendon before doing heavy exercises.
It is necessary to periodically pump up the calf muscles and increase the load over time.
You need to do jumping, which will provide elasticity not only to the Achilles tendon, but also to other tendons of the legs.
After exercise, it is necessary to stretch the calves.

In conclusion, I would like to say that, despite the fact that the Achilles tendon is the strongest tendon, it is most often subject to stress and can be injured. Therefore, before performing any exercises, you need to do a little warm-up and prevention.

http://ortopeddom.ru/obshhaya-informatsiya/kak-lechit-vospal…

Source: http://ortopeddom.mirtesen.ru/blog/43846965639

Tendon structure
Causes of pathology
Symptoms
Treatment

As you know, muscles in the human body are designed to protect and allow movement. Since the legs bear a large load, they are damaged more often than other parts of the body.

Let's consider a common injury to the ligamentous apparatus in the ankle area, where the Achilles tendon is located. Inflammation of the Achilles tendon often occurs in athletes and people over 40 years of age.

The pathology is accompanied by severe pain, swelling and the inability to move the ankle normally.

Pain in the Achilles tendon does not allow a person to walk or run normally, which causes discomfort and limited mobility.

Injury or inflammation of the Achilles tendon can occur both during sports or physical labor, and under the influence of diseases occurring in the body and weakening the ligamentous apparatus. Treatment and rehabilitation are always lengthy and require patience and the need to follow all the doctor’s recommendations. Only then will normal leg mobility return.

To understand why the inflammatory process occurs in the Achilles tendon, let’s look at its structural and physiological features.

Nature has endowed it with strength among all tendons located in the body.

This is necessary to withstand the load of the entire body weight and take part in movement, protecting bones and joints from injury and displacement.

From above, the tendon is located at the junction of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of the leg, and from below it is attached to the posterior surface of the heel tubercle.

The Achilles tendon's job is to play a role in lifting the heel, allowing the toes to push off, and lowering the forefoot after the heel strikes the ground.

The greatest load on the tendon occurs when climbing up or descending from a hill. Under such circumstances, the tendon is under constant tension and if the muscles are not trained, the legs quickly get tired.

The load on the ankle and lower leg muscles increases when wearing uncomfortable shoes, when the shoe has a hard sole but a soft heel. The combination of uncomfortable shoes and heavy strain on the muscles increases the risk of injury.

Inflammation most often occurs when the connective tissue of the tendon is damaged, causing pain with any movement of the foot. A person cannot walk, run, or jump normally.

The causes of inflammation in the Achilles tendon are associated with exogenous and endogenous factors.

It is worth noting that pathology is more common in two categories of the population:

People over 40 years of age. In their body, disruptions occur due to impaired metabolism, which causes the connective tissue of the tendon to suffer - it lacks fluid and a drying process occurs. Salts also accumulate in joints and muscles, which makes collagen fibers less elastic and stretchable. Such people are more susceptible to fiber injury, including micro-tears.
Athletes. Despite the fact that their muscles are trained and strengthened, they experience more stress than an ordinary person. Often athletes strive for maximum loads and get injured while playing sports. Naturally, this is not in vain and over time the Achilles tendon cannot fully recover.

Let's consider the causes of inflammation of the Achilles tendon, or tendonitis, as it is called medically, of an endogenous nature, that is, those factors that are associated with pathological processes in organism.

In order for the tendon not to be damaged and inflammation to occur, it is necessary that in a healthy state there are collagen fibers, which give strength, and elastin fibers, which are necessary for the extensibility of the ligaments.

The natural stretch of the tendon allows you to land on your feet painlessly when jumping, running or walking.

There comes an age when the Achilles tendon experiences a load that it cannot withstand, and this condition is associated with damage and micro-tears in the fibers.

The reasons for this are the accumulation of urates, uric acid or an increased concentration of cholesterol in the tissues. Cholesterol levels increase with obesity, metabolic problems, and consumption of fatty foods.

Pain and inflammation can be caused by gout or other conditions associated with the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the tissues.

Among internal reasons The presence of flat feet or club feet may be noted. With age, increased stress on the Achilles tendon leads to tendinitis. As well as the aging of the body, injuries received during life affect the structure of the tendon.

Let's consider external reasons. Injuries are a major factor in inflammation.

If you receive an injury, a tendon may be sprained or ruptured, which will affect your ability to move normally.

Shoes also affect the strength and integrity of the tendon system. It should be comfortable and not cause rapid fatigue or discomfort.

The symptoms of tendinitis are not particularly different from inflammation of other tendons, but due to the anatomical features of the location of the Achilles tendon, the mobility of the leg is limited. The degree of pain depends on the extent of tissue damage and the neglect of the process.

The most common symptoms are pain in the heel area and around the calf muscles of the leg. The inflammation causes acute pain, and the person feels as if something is burning in the leg.

If treatment is not started immediately, pain occurs immediately upon waking up after sleep and increases when moving the leg.

A person cannot fully lean on his leg, which manifests itself as lameness.

A characteristic sign of tendonitis is the occurrence of swelling in the part where inflammation has developed. On palpation, swelling and thickening of the tendon is felt.

Externally, skin hyperemia in the calf area is clearly visible.

Inflammation can cause a local increase in skin temperature and crepitus during leg movements.

It is difficult to judge the degree of pain, since it all depends on the following factors:

individual characteristics of the body, that is, pain sensitivity threshold;
the degree of damage, which depends on the type of damage (rupture, sprain, inflammation due to internal factors);
the extent of the process and the localization of inflammation.

It is worth noting that the sooner you start treating tendinitis, the it will pass faster rehabilitation.

Often, serious Achilles tendon injuries require surgical intervention, so it is better not to delay visiting a doctor if pain persists due to injury.

After the operation, the person will temporarily lose the ability to work, as he will not be able to step on his leg, therefore, he needs to be mentally prepared for this.

If inflammation is not treated and the disease continues on the legs, chronic tendonitis may develop with periods of exacerbation and remission. The chronic form can force a person to give up playing his favorite sport, which will affect him psychologically.

Since a sprain or rupture of the Achilles tendon is accompanied by severe pain, the doctor must rule out fractures and dislocations in the foot, ankle and other bones during diagnosis.

For this purpose, an x-ray is prescribed. If no bone damage is detected, then the ligament apparatus is examined. The doctor chooses between an ultrasound examination and an MRI.

Inspection, palpation and collection of complaints are also carried out.

Once the diagnosis is made, the doctor chooses a treatment algorithm. Doctors try to prescribe conservative treatment, using medications for pain relief, fixing the leg and using ointments.

When the question is where to treat a disease, the answer is simple. If there are no fractures or ruptures and the patient is able to walk, then treatment can be carried out on an outpatient basis - at home.

If surgical intervention is required, the patient is left in the hospital, since rehabilitation after surgery should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor who will select exercises and prescribe the necessary procedures.

Medicines prescribed NSAID groups. Nimesulide and Ibuprofen relieve pain and inflammation. When there is a threat of infection, for example, with an open wound, then antibiotics and regular dressings and wound treatment are prescribed.

The ankle can be immobilized using an orthosis; a bandage with an elastic bandage is also allowed. In case of ruptures and injuries of the bone, a plaster cast is applied, and in case of open fracture surgery is needed. The goal after surgery is to restore mobility to the leg and develop muscles.

Physiotherapy can speed up the recovery and healing of ligaments. Ultrasound is prescribed with medicinal ointments, with Voltaren, Solcoseryl, Dolobene-gel. For severe pain, you can use compresses with Analgin, Novocaine or Dexamethasone.

For complex injuries, treatment is carried out using surgery. . During surgery, the tendon is sutured to remove deformation or compression.

After the operation, a special orthosis is worn that limits the mobility of the leg. Rehabilitation includes physiotherapy, massage, exercise therapy and can last up to 2-3 months.

Source: http://drpozvonkov.ru/ossa-musculi-ligamentorum/svyazki/ahillovo-suhozhilie.html

Pain in the ankle area is caused by inflammation of the Achilles tendon. This is a disease of athletes who overload themselves with training, and women who prefer to wear high-heeled shoes.

At the same time, there are more prosaic situations - birth defects, for example, shortened tendons, salt deposits, arthritis, gout.

All these diseases come together general term– inflammation of the Achilles.

Several types of diseases in the ankle joint are hidden under one name - inflammation of the Achilles tendon. They are united by common symptoms, the speed of development of the disease, and, naturally, the place where the disease is localized.

The main symptom is severe pain at the junction of the heel bone and the Achilles tendon.

Treatment is traditionally aimed at relieving pain and inflammation, relieving swelling, and getting rid of fibrous accumulations, to restore blood flow.

Inflammatory processes are localized in the Achilles tendon, differing in symptoms, type of tissue damage, and degree of limitation of movement.

Treatment of the Achilles tendon is required when persistent pain appears in the ankle or ankle, occurring after rest, after getting out of bed and starting to move.

When resting, the tendons are in a relaxed state, and when loads appear, the pain quickly returns, preventing you from walking or moving your legs.

Anyone can get sick, but most often such inflammation is the result of high physical exertion, which can cause rupture and strain of the tendon.

Pain symptoms in the Achilles tendon area indicate the manifestation of various diseases:

calcification, when plantar fasciitis develops against the background of calcium salt deposits;
hygromas;
tendinosis;
tendinopathy;
Haglund's deformities;
peritendinitis;
enthesopathies;
achilles bursitis;
paratenonitis;
ankle achillesitis;
crepitant tenosynovitis of the tendon.

The onset of each of these inflammatory diseases, and the list is far from complete, is characterized by the appearance of a thickening on the tendon, redness of the skin, some swelling of the entire area, and crunching sounds when moving. In the video you can see what a sick person’s leg looks like and how a doctor examines it. At the beginning of inflammation, when hyperemia and burning appear in the heel area, you might think that a fungus is developing. However, after a day or two, the symptoms increase sharply, and it becomes clear that this is not a fungal disease, but a real inflammation of the tendon, in which the leg begins to swell.

Achilles tendon hygroma is a special type of cyst that develops on the tendon tissue. Typically, this cyst is very painful lump, filled with liquid, which is where the name “hygro...” came from.

The consistency of the liquid is jelly-like, transparent; on palpation, the lump is determined to be both hard and soft.

Hygroma is benign education, amenable to medication and physiotherapeutic treatment. The Achilles tendon often undergoes surgery.

This pathology has a high chance of complete recovery, since the postoperative period usually proceeds without any complications or consequences.

A fairly common disease is Achilles tendon enthesopathy. It is one of the types of achilles tendonites, but has its own characteristics and characteristics of the inflammatory process.

Enthesopathy is a degenerative process inflammatory in nature, developing at the site of attachment of tendons to the bone, where calcifications accumulate and form a serious obstacle to full movements of the leg.

At first, it may seem to a person that he has simply pulled his leg, and he, limping, goes to the healers to correct the joint. However, things are much more serious.

Due to tissue degeneration, calcification develops and a heel spur is formed.

This will require long-term maintenance treatment based on the constant use of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Increased loads on the feet and lower leg muscles lead to the development of crepitant tendovaginitis of the Achilles tendon.

Treatment should begin immediately, since the inflammatory disease is manifested by thickening of the tendon, pain in movement, and tumor formation.

A distinctive symptom is a sensitive, characteristic creaking sound when moving the joints. Tenosynovitis of the crepitant type affects the synovium surrounding the extensor tendons.

The aseptic type of crepitating tenosynovitis is not associated with infection of the body, because of this it is an independent inflammatory disease.

It is based on adhesions with the formation of compaction and scars developing on the tissues of the gliding apparatus of the Achilles zone. It occurs as a consequence of microcirculation disorders, old injuries, and spinal pathologies.

Against this background, it develops secondary inflammation connective tissues of collagen properties. Acute period The disease is characterized by a widespread tumor of the Achilles tendon, sensitive pain syndrome, and lameness when walking.

This is due to a violation of the outflow of lymph, and compaction synovial membranes sliding fabrics.

Collagen inflammation of the Achilles tendon is treatable thanks to the use of innovative methods and the latest pharmacological agents in therapy.

If the doctor suspects inflammation of the Achilles tendon, treatment begins after full examination and clarifying the diagnosis with various highly qualified specialists - a surgeon, an orthopedist.

They check the integrity of the tendon reflex, pain on palpation and movement of the joint.

Doctors in the complex undertake to cure a person, provided that he seeks medical help in a timely manner.

Diagnostic methods:

examination by a doctor;
radiation examination;
X-ray examination.

The doctor conducts the initial examination, as can be seen in the photo, using palpation and finds the places of greatest pain response to touch.

This helps to suggest an injury or inflammatory process, after which further examination is prescribed. Radiation diagnostics provides information if there is an accumulation of calcifications on the tendon.

Only in this case the doctor can see information that provides the basis for clarifying the diagnosis.

MRI is the most informative examination to date. Magnetic resonance images of tissues show the slightest tears, initial form inflammation, spurs, condition of tendon tissue.

Ultrasound determines whether it is necessary surgical care in the treatment of the inflammatory process. X-ray images accurately show the location of inflammation.

After diagnostic confirmation of the presence inflammatory disease, the doctor prescribes complete and competent treatment.

Inflammation of the Achilles tendon occurs in two types - acute and chronic. Depending on the form of the disease, the manifestations of the disease differ.

Acute inflammation manifests itself:

pain during physical activity;
gradual subsidence of pain during rest;
discomfort when touching the heel and ankle;
general redness around the tendon.

For a long time good rest microscopic tears have time to heal, so the person feels significant relief and can walk a little without limping.

However, new motor loads also cause new injuries to the ligament tissue. It is necessary to pay attention to the slightest symptoms in time, since without treatment the inflammation will become chronic.

Inflammation of the Achilles tendon produces symptoms that cannot be confused with any other disease.

Chronic inflammation manifests itself:

gradual increase in pain;
feeling severe pain even after a long rest;
increased pain when going down or going up stairs.

Both forms of inflammation give the following manifestations:

pain increases sharply;
the tendon thickens;
tension appears in the calf muscles;
limited mobility in the ankle area;
creaking appears in the ankle joint with any movement;
It is difficult to bend the foot and rise on the toes.

Each person is responsible for his own health.

Is it worth allowing such things to happen? serious complications, or is it still better to go to the clinic to see your doctor and start treatment on time so as not to get sick and not remain immobilized for many years of life.

Inflammation of the Achilles tendon can be easily treated at home, and surgeons of traditional medical practice themselves advise resorting to traditional recipes.

Achilles tendons can become inflamed due to the habit of wearing uncomfortable shoes. Another reason for the development of inflammatory processes is metabolic disorders when cholesterol levels in the blood increase.

The inflammatory process of achillesitis of the ankle joint develops as secondary disease with gout, tonsillitis, with the deposition of urate microcrystals, with frequent formation of calluses on the outside of the heel.

The main treatment is prescribed:

elimination of loads;
compresses with a chilled cloth for 10 minutes several times a day;
restriction of movements of the ankle joint;
use of an elastic bandage;
taking medications prescribed by a doctor;
wearing shoes without heels.

Even before the appointment medications, with the fulfillment of the specified requirements of the doctor, patients receive significant relief.

The surgeon examines the leg, palpates the inflamed area, and prescribes an X-ray examination.

For Achilles tendon enthesopathy, treatment is prescribed after a full examination, including x-rays.

After receiving images confirming the presence of an inflammatory process on the Achilles tendon, the doctor prescribes:

painkillers by injection;
pumping medicine directly into the joint;
non-steroidal medications against inflammation;
antibiotics.

Anti-inflammatory agents are used in tablet form or as injections. The doctor makes injections into the tissue of the leg near the tendon to pump the medicine directly into the site of inflammation. Effective application non-steroidal ointments and gels as local impact for inflammation.

After consulting a doctor, you can treat inflammation using traditional methods.

Among the variety of culinary seasonings, a herbal additive stands out - curcumin, which has antibiotic properties.

If the site of inflammation swells, ice massage, which is performed with ice cubes in the tendon area, helps relieve pain and stop the development of the inflammatory process.

Pine baths with sea salt added to the water will relieve inflammation and help relax a tense tendon. Traditional healers They suggest smearing the inflamed area with plantain and nettle juice, freshly squeezed from young plants.

This is a painstaking method, but it gives good results along with honey, which can be rubbed on the leg and covered with a cotton cloth.

An unconventional method is to treat the inflamed leg with a compress of milk. The compress must be warmed up; when it cools, you can again dip the cloth in hot milk and wrap the leg again. Do this several times, for a total of up to 30 minutes.

For oral administration, a vodka tincture is prepared from the internal partitions. walnuts. You will need a glass of crushed partitions and 0.5 liters of good vodka.

You need to pour a full bottle of crushed walnut partitions, pour vodka over them, and leave for 20 days in a dark, dry place.

According to reviews from people who have suffered inflammation of the Achilles tendon, one must be patient in treatment, as it is long-term and varied.

Persistent long-term treatment helps to completely get rid of inflammation of the Achilles tendon and restore full movement of the ankle joint.

An important condition in achieving a complete cure is to change your lifestyle, protect your legs from stress as much as possible in order to avoid exacerbations. It is necessary to strictly follow the surgeon’s recommendations to avoid deterioration to the point of disability and surgical intervention.

Source: http://prosimptomy.ru/bolezni-kostej-mishc/vospalenie-ahillova-suhozhiliya/

The Achilles (heel) tendon is the strongest joint in the human body. It connects the heel bone and the calf muscles. Withstands loads up to 400 kilograms.

Requires mandatory treatment, in the absence of which the disease becomes chronic.

The causes and factors that lead to inflammation are as follows:

Injuries in the tendon area.
Overload of the heel tendon. Excessive loads on the calf muscles lead to prolonged tension of the Achilles tendon. The calf muscle shortens, and the tendon is in a state of constant tension. This leads to the development of tendinitis.
Age-related changes. With age, the elasticity of the Achilles tendon decreases and its ability to stretch decreases. For minor injury or prolonged strain on the lower limb inflammation develops.
Professional sports. In athletes, tendinitis occurs as a result of prolonged physical stress on the legs if the training regime and rules are not followed.
Sedentary lifestyle. At the same time, the heel tendon becomes less extensible and elastic, which contributes to the development of the disease due to injuries or stress on the ankle joint.
Ill-fitting shoes can put more stress on the Achilles tendon, which can lead to inflammation. Long wearing Women wearing high heels causes it to shorten. When changing from heels to shoes with flat soles, the tendon is strained and pain occurs in the feet. These factors lead to the development of the inflammatory process.

Inflammation of the Achilles tendon comes in 3 forms:

Peritendinitis is an inflammatory process that affects the tissue surrounding the tendon.
Enthesopathy – characterized by inflammation of the Achilles tendon at the junction with the heel bone. Often with this form of tendonitis a heel spur appears. The process of calcification of bone tissue may begin.
Tendinitis is an inflammatory process that develops only in the tendon. The surrounding tissues are not affected.

According to the nature of the flow, they are distinguished:

Acute tendinitis. It develops primarily after exposure to a damaging factor. Characterized by vivid symptoms.
Chronic tendinitis. Occurs due to lack of treatment in the acute stage.

Depending on the stage of the disease, symptoms will vary slightly.

At acute course the process they are like this:

Severe pain syndrome. The pain is localized in the heel area, at the site of inflammation of the Achilles tendon. It hurts when trying to stand on your toes Bottom part back of the shins.
Unpleasant sensations and pain appear when you try to touch the Achilles area.
Swelling in the area of inflammation, redness of the skin.
After waking up, when the patient gets out of bed, the pain is unbearable. It subsides gradually as you walk, and by the evening it may completely disappear.
There is limited mobility in the ankle joint.

For chronic process The following symptoms are typical:

Prolonged pain syndrome can last for 2-3 weeks, sometimes for several months.
In the area of inflammation, a seal forms due to permanent damage to the Achilles tendon.
Tissue swelling decreases, but does not completely disappear.
When you press on the back of the heel, a characteristic creaking sound appears.

Diagnosis of the disease is not difficult. The following examination is carried out:

Identification of patient complaints.
Questioning the patient. Allows you to identify possible causes of inflammation.
Inspection and palpation of the affected area of the Achilles tendon.
Carrying out functional tests. This will rule out or confirm an Achilles tendon rupture.
X-ray of the affected area in the posterior and lateral projection.
Magnetic resonance imaging.

Performed in severe cases. MRI data determines the localization of the inflammatory process and areas of calcification and degenerative changes.

Therapy is aimed at eliminating the inflammatory process. It can be treated conservatively using folk remedies. Surgical treatment is performed for chronic inflammation of the Achilles tendon and degenerative changes.

1. Conservative treatment:

Ensuring rest of the injured limb in an elevated position.
Cold to the site of inflammation (compresses, pieces of ice).
Fixation of the Achilles tendon with an elastic bandage or pressure bandage. In case of severe inflammation and dysfunction of the ankle, a plaster cast is applied.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed - indomethacin, voltaren. They reduce inflammation, relieve tissue swelling and relieve pain.
Physiotherapy. Appointed after subsidence acute symptoms. Aimed at stretching and strengthening the tendons and muscles of the lower leg.
The disease can be treated with physiotherapeutic methods.
They are prescribed after the elimination of acute symptoms. Electrophoresis with anti-inflammatory drugs is indicated, ultrasound treatment, electrical stimulation.
Massage. Helps strengthen and develop the Achilles tendon. The massage improves blood circulation in the area of inflammation and the muscles of the lower leg.
It can be treated with folk remedies. It must be remembered that traditional treatment cannot act as the main method. The use of folk remedies should be combined with traditional ways. Turmeric, walnut shells, and mumiyo are widely used. Derivatives of these substances are used for compresses and bandages. You can make salt or pine foot baths.

2. Surgical treatment.

Prescribed for ineffectiveness conservative techniques within six months. Excision of the changed section of the tendon is performed, followed by plastic surgery.

The removed areas are replaced with a tendon of the plantar muscles. Recovery period lasts about a month. During this period, wearing a plaster boot is indicated.

Then rehabilitation is carried out, including exercise therapy, massage, and physiotherapy.

Inflammation of the Achilles tendon is an unpleasant disease that disrupts the patient’s quality of life. The disease must be treated early stages development.

If symptoms of tendon inflammation appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.

This will help avoid the development of chronic tendinitis and adverse consequences.

Source: http://SustavLife.ru/svyaz/vospalenie-axillova-suxozhiliya.html

Tendinitis or Achilles tendonopathy is a degenerative process (inflammation or tissue damage) that occurs in the heel tendon.

In adults after 40 years of age, this pathology occurs due to a decrease in the elasticity and extensibility of connective tissue, however more often This condition occurs in athletes and people whose main activity involves excessive physical exertion.

Timely consultation with a doctor allows you to quickly recover damaged tissue tendons, and lack of treatment and prevention can lead to chronic tendinitis.

The Achilles or calcaneal tendon is one of the strongest and strongest tendons in the human body:

The upper part of the tendon is located at the junction of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles;
The lower part is attached to the calcaneal tuber (its posterior surface);
The gastrocnemius muscle, along with the calcaneal tendon, lifts the heel when lifting the leg and pushing off the ground with the toes, and also lowers the forefoot after the heel touches the ground.

Climbing up and down hills, running on uneven inclines, and wearing the wrong kind of hard-soled, soft-heeled shoes place high and uneven stress on this tendon, which is why it is most likely to be injured.

Injuries where the tendon attaches to the bone are caused by overuse. A load on the tendon of the same strength and intensity in one case can lead to its successful adaptation and strengthening, and in another - reduce its strength, contributing to the occurrence of dystrophic changes. It all depends on the condition of the tissue at the time of the load.

Various disorders of tissue conductivity can lead to deterioration of metabolism and drying of connective tissue due to water loss.

Metabolic products are poorly excreted, salts accumulate - this significantly reduces the elasticity of collagen fibers and their extensibility.

The stability of the tendon when stretched deteriorates and with sudden movements various micro-tears can occur.

Similar processes occur at the age of 40 years and older.

But in athletes and people engaged in physical labor, tissue aging in tendons is accelerated by constant overload and periodic injuries at the cellular and tissue level.

Experts call tendinitis mainly sports injuries caused by increased stress and lack of normal, full recovery between workouts.

Heavy loads on a poorly stretchable muscle lead to inflammation or damage to the connective tissue of the Achilles tendon - as a result, any movements of the foot (running, walking, jumping) cause severe pain.

In the absence of adequate measures, the tendon may separate from the heel bone or rupture.

The occurrence of damage to the Achilles tendon indicates a large load that was taken against the background sedentary image life without prior preparation, or violation of the training regimen and overload.

The damage can be mechanical in nature without the onset of an inflammatory process, but in some cases, tendinitis is associated specifically with inflammation.

Tissue with micro-tears and cracks heals over time, but becomes less elastic with numerous microscopic scars.

Treatment of inflammation in the tendon tissue is carried out quickly with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, and mechanical damage require long-term therapy and special training until tissue restoration and tendon endurance are complete.

There are 3 forms of achilles tendinitis:

Peritendinitis- inflammation of the tissues surrounding the tendon. It may be accompanied by tissue degeneration.
Tendinitis- inflammation and damage to the tendon. The surrounding tissues are not involved in the process.
Enthesopathy- degeneration and inflammation of the tendon at the site of its attachment to the bone. Sometimes accompanied by the development of heel spurs or calcification.

The beginning of treatment for each of these forms is similar.

Initially, acute pain appears and the tendon is subject to stress.

Without proper treatment, the pain may go away for a while, but then return and become chronic; in the worst case, a complete rupture of the tendon occurs.

The reasons why Achilles tendon problems occur can vary.

The tendon consists of collagen and elastin fibers: the former provide it with strength, and the latter with extensibility.

Normally, the Achilles tendon is capable of stretching by 5% of its original length - this helps the leg to make springy movements, that is, the tendon performs a shock-absorbing function.

But with age, the extensibility of the tendon decreases, and stress can lead to fiber damage and micro-tears.

That is why, after 35 years, untrained people are not recommended to start any training without first warming up the muscles and warming up.

People who experience pain in the heel tendon area and those who have previously had problems with it should pay great attention to this warning.

Even professional athletes and trained people can experience heel tendon problems.

This occurs as a result of overtraining and excess tension on the tendon.

Without the necessary rest, tissues do not have time to recover and lose their ability to relax.

Very often, athletes ignore the onset of the disease.

The resulting inflammation begins to cause mild pain - this may indicate that microtears have occurred in the tissues and there is a need to temporarily stop training or weaken the training regimen.

But on various reasons the athlete does not do this, and advanced or even chronic inflammation and tissue damage can lead to complete rupture of the tendon.

Therefore, it is necessary to treat tendinitis in a timely manner, and the time when you can return to classes is determined by the doctor.

Overpronation of the foot is the physiological movement of the foot inward.

In this position, the tendon experiences excessive stretching and is injured when walking and other loads.

Incorrect footwear can contribute to the development of tendinitis:

The use of incorrectly selected sports shoes during training significantly affects the distribution of load on the legs and can increase it.
Women who wear high-heeled shoes all day long experience pain in the heel tendon and calf muscles in the evening when switching to flat soles. This is due to the fact that the muscle and tendon were in a shortened state all day, and when they try to stretch them in the evening, they “protest.”

This is a kind of bone growth on the heel bone near the place where the tendon is attached - outwardly it looks like a bubble on the heel.

Because of this growth, the tendon has to stretch even more under different loads.

Depending on whether there is inflammation of the tendon bursa or whether tissue swelling develops, this growth can be either soft or hard.

The cause of the inflammatory process in the tendon can be various acute and chronic infections.

Achilles tendonitis can occur in acute or chronic form.

The acute form is characterized by a gradual increase:

At first, the patient experiences pain at the beginning of training or exercise; after warming up, the pain subsides, and rest completely eliminates all pain.
Some discomfort may be felt upon palpation.

The subsidence of pain after a break and aggravation when walking is explained by the fact that during a long rest all micro-tears grow together, and with a new movement they are injured again.

If left untreated, this symptom quickly causes the development of chronic tendinitis.

With chronic Achilles tendonitis, pain increases gradually over several months or weeks:

during exercise it intensifies and even after warming up the stretching does not go away;
long rest does not bring relief - pain can appear even in the morning after sleep;
going up and down stairs or an inclined surface causes the development of pain.

In both cases, you may also experience:

tendon thickening;
feeling of tension in the calf muscle;
redness and hyperthermia of the skin;
limited mobility in the ankle area.
pain - can be localized along the entire tendon, or closer to the heel;
at a height of 2 to 6 cm, swelling may occur;
it is difficult to dorsiflex the foot and stand on your toes;
sometimes - a characteristic creak when moving the joint in the ankle.

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Diagnostic methods

The following examination methods are used for diagnosis:

physical examination;
radiology diagnostics;
Magnetic resonance imaging;
ultrasonography.

Most often, the diagnosis is made based on a conversation with the patient and a physical examination; by palpation, the doctor determines the points of greatest localization of pain.

A characteristic feature of calcaneal tendonitis is that when moving the foot and further palpation, the pain moves slightly, as the tendon and muscles are stretched.

Particular attention is paid to inspecting for ruptures.

X-ray examination can show the presence of inflammation or degenerative changes only if there are areas of calcification.

If there are no calcifications, then radiation diagnostics will not help make a diagnosis.

MRI and ultrasound can determine whether there are ruptures and whether there is a need for surgery.

If minor pain in the heel tendon occurs once, the legs need rest.

All loads should be limited for a while. To relieve swelling and redness, you can apply ice, and to cope with pain, you should apply an elastic bandage to the painful area.

If the pain is very severe, does not go away even after rest, and intensifies with exercise, when there is a suspicion of tendon rupture, you should immediately consult a doctor.

He will conduct an examination and, if necessary, prescribe additional examination.

To treat inflammation, he can prescribe special medications, advise folk remedies and draw up a rehabilitation plan. Immobilization, partial or complete, or surgery may be required.

It is possible to treat tendinitis using traditional medicine, but the methods must be agreed upon with your doctor:

Using curcumin seasoning- a natural antibiotic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, can treat tendon inflammation. To do this, you need to eat half a gram of this product per day.
You can prepare a tincture of walnut partitions with vodka. For one glass of nut partitions you need to take 0.5 liters of vodka and leave for about 20 days. Take 2 times a day, 1 teaspoon. If there are any problems with the thyroid gland, you should consult a doctor before taking it.
Oil solution of mountain resin mumiyo You can rub it into the affected area, and also take orally about 0.1–0.5 g of resin dissolved in warm milk. Such two-week courses can be repeated with a 10-day break.
You can make pine-salt foot baths.
Ice massage using ice cubes helps reduce pain. Pieces of ice should be massaged into the painful area for 20 minutes.

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Exercises

With the help of special exercises, you can treat achilles tendinitis, restore after drug and surgical treatment, alleviate the condition of connective tissue, stretch it and reduce the load, as well as prevent this disease.

The most important and simple exercise is walking. It should be carried out in comfortable shoes, using a special technique: a soft roll from heel to toe, without excessively turning the toe out. During rehabilitation after surgery, step length, walking time and load force increase gradually.
Half-squats on toes, lifting on toes and returning to the starting position, and running are useful, but they should be done after a light warm-up and stretching exercises for muscles and tendons.
Exercising in water is also beneficial. The human body loses most of its weight in water, so it is in water that you can begin to perform all the exercises recommended by the instructor. During dry training, the most difficult ones can be performed 1–2 weeks later than in water.

Exercise to stretch the calf muscles and Achilles tendon:

Stand facing the wall and rest your hands on it. Stretch back and rest on your toes the leg whose tissue you want to stretch, and bend the other leg slightly at the knee.
Maintain this position for about 30 seconds and then return to the starting position. You need to repeat 3-5 times.

Exercise to increase the strength and elasticity of the Achilles tendon:

Place your heels on the edge of a small rise or a special step platform and squat.
It is necessary to perform 3 hikes of 12 squats daily.
On the same platform, stand with your toes on the edge and go down and up.

Both of these exercises are eccentric, aimed at simultaneously stretching and tensioning the tissue and are excellent for restoring the heel tendon.

However, errors in execution can be dangerous, so initially it is advisable to conduct training under the supervision of an instructor.

When performing any exercise, you need to remember that the restoration of physical activity should occur gradually.

You should not return to sports, dancing or your usual physical activity immediately, but slowly increase the intensity.

To prevent muscles from losing strength and ligaments from losing mobility, there are various types of ground gymnastics, the exercises of which are performed in a lying or sitting position.

The first thing that needs to be ensured before starting treatment is to reduce the load on the tendon.

You can immobilize the foot in this area in different ways:

splinting;
gypsum;
use of crutches;
elastic bandage;
taping;
application of orthoses that completely or partially restrict movement.

In most cases, this disease is treated with the following course of treatment:

non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used - Nimesil, Naklofen, etc.;
in the most difficult cases, antibiotic therapy may be prescribed;
You can use ultrasound to inject Voltaren ointment, Dolobene gel and Solcoseryl into the affected area;
To relieve pain at night, you can apply a compress of Analgin, Novocaine and Dexamethasone in equal parts or give intramuscular pain-relieving injections.

If conservative methods Treatments do not bring the desired result, then surgery may be necessary.

During the operation, an incision is made and the affected areas are excised, and then the tendon is sutured; in case of Haglund's deformity, the bone growth is removed.

Rice.: operative recovery Achilles tendon

After the operation, the patient wears a special boot for about 6 weeks.

Over time, after 2-3 weeks, you can already step on the operated leg, and after removing the immobilizing orthosis, a course of rehabilitation is carried out for recovery, which lasts from 1 to 3 months.

For prevention purposes, it is necessary to follow certain rules:

physical exercises should be performed with gradual intensification;
before any physical activity, it is advisable to warm up the muscles and tendons and perform stretching exercises;
for training and everyday wear you need to choose comfortable shoes;
If pain occurs, you need to stop training.

Achilles tendonitis - a disease of athletes, people doing physically demanding work and women who prefer to wear high-heeled shoes - is very effectively and easily treated in the early stages.

But if it is neglected, complications may arise in the form of tendon rupture or chronic inflammation.

Used for treatment the whole complex measures: special exercises, drug therapy and immobilization of the painful area in various ways.

It is impossible to carry out all these measures on your own, so if you experience pain in the Achilles tendon area, you need to seek help from a specialist.

Video: Achilles tendon injuries

The Achilles tendon, also known as the heel tendon, is the strongest tendon in the human body, as it can withstand loads of up to 400 kg without rupture. However, despite this fact, it is the most commonly injured tendon.

Another cause of inflammation may be impaired metabolism. As a result of the fact that there is a large amount of fats and cholesterol in the blood, as well as in the presence of gout, an acute inflammatory process may develop due to the fact that urate microcrystals begin to be deposited in the tissues of the body.

In addition, pain in the tendon area can occur due to diseases of the bones or joints, in the presence of a heel spur or an inflammatory process in the arch of the foot.

Factors that can lead to inflammation include:

Microtraumas. Chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Incorrectly formed tendon. Age-related changes. Flat feet, which is characterized by the presence of hyperpronation. Uncomfortable shoes.

The main symptom of an inflammatory process in the Achilles tendon is pain in the heel area or under the calves. In most cases, pain occurs after a long rest, that is, after sleep, when a person gets up and starts walking. This is explained by the fact that during sleep the tendon relaxes and the pain subsides, but when a load appears, the pain manifests itself and prevents you from taking a normal step. In addition, there may be other symptoms:

Thickening and redness of the skin may be found in the tendon area. Local hyperthermia. Slight swelling. Crunchy sound.

Appearance pain in the bones, in the Achilles area tendon may indicate the development of not only Achilles tendinitis, but also other diseases, such as bursitis or arthrosis of the foot.

Fluid in the Achilles tendon may manifest itself with the following symptoms:

Pain in the tendon area. Redness. Swelling in the heel area. Movement in the ankle and ankle is significantly difficult.

How to treat Achilles tendon? When identifying an inflammatory process, the first thing you need to do is:

Avoid stress on the tendon. Apply cold compresses for 10 minutes throughout the day. Limit movement in the tendon. To do this, you can use an elastic bandage and wear low-heeled shoes.

First of all, after examining the patient, the doctor prescribes an x-ray, which can be used to see whether there really is inflammation of the Achilles tendon. If inflammation is present, the doctor may prescribe:

Painkillers. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In some cases, antibiotics may be prescribed.

Medicines may be given as tablets or injections that are given directly near the tendon.

How to treat inflammation of the Achilles heel joint using traditional medicine? You can try to cure inflammation of the Achilles tendon using traditional medicine. However, before using any methods, you should consult a doctor, since self-medication is harmful to the body. Among the methods of traditional treatment are:

The spice curcumin is a natural antibiotic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. You need to eat about 0.5 g per day. Tincture of walnut partitions with vodka. To prepare it, you need to take 0.5 liters of vodka and 1 glass of nut partitions. Mix and leave for 20 days. After this, this remedy can be taken 2 times a day, 1 tsp. Oil solution of mountain resin mumiyo. This remedy can be rubbed into the tendon area, and also taken orally 0.1-0.5 g of resin, which is dissolved in warm milk. This can be done for 2 weeks, after which a 10-day break is required. Pine-salt foot baths. Ice massage. To do this, you need to massage the tendon area with pieces of ice.

In combination with drug treatment, the inflammatory process can be treated with physiotherapy, which includes the following methods:

Magnetotherapy. Laser therapy. Ultrasound therapy. Shock wave therapy. Electrophoresis with lidase. Mud applications.

To prevent inflammation of the tendon, it is necessary to prevent the disease:

It is necessary to stretch the tendon before doing heavy exercises. It is necessary to periodically pump up the calf muscles and increase the load over time. You need to do jumping, which will provide elasticity not only to the Achilles tendon, but also to other tendons of the legs. After exercise, it is necessary to stretch the calves.

We are always told that playing sports is good for health. Of course, moderate physical activity is simply necessary to be in good shape and have healthy body And healthy mind. But, as you know, playing professional sports is not only money and fame, but also frequent injuries, which sometimes cause the athlete to quit. big sport. In our article we will look at one of these diseases – Achilles tendonitis. The treatment of this disease will also be considered.

Tendinitis is a disease characterized by inflammation in the Achilles tendon area. The pathology often develops in people who are professionally involved in sports, that is, they subject the Achilles tendon to overstrain, which leads to the appearance of the disease.

Below we will take a closer look at the treatment. Achilles tendonitis can develop at older ages, even in those who do not play sports. This is due to age-related changes, the range of motion in the ankle joint gradually decreases, and the tendon becomes less elastic, which can lead to injury.

Have you been diagnosed with Achilles tendinitis? The treatment and causes of this pathology will be discussed in the article. First, let's look in more detail at the factors that provoke the disease:

Decrease in elasticity with age. The tendon contains collagen and elastic fibers, which make it strong and stretchable. The older a person gets, the more these indicators decrease, and stress can lead to ruptures or damage to tendon fibers. This is precisely why after 35 years, any training should begin with a warm-up. Heavy loads. As a rule, athletes are exposed to them. Excessive training leads to overstrain of the tendon. A short period of rest does not allow the tissues to recover sufficiently and fiber rupture may occur. Flat feet with overpronation, when the foot falls inward. When walking in this position, the tendon is stretched more and can be injured. Inconvenient shoes, especially for sports training. Incorrect load distribution occurs, which can lead to the development of this pathology. Women's love for high heels can result in the formation of Achilles tendonitis. Treatment in this case is also necessary. A growth on the heel (Haglund's deformity) in the place where the tendon is attached. Infectious diseases can also trigger the development of pathology. Some problems with bones and joints, for example, arthritis. Different leg lengths. The cause of the development of pathology can be gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and thyroid disease.

Any of these reasons may result in the need for serious treatment; Achilles tendonitis will not go away on its own. It is advisable to consult a doctor when the first signs appear.

This disease can occur in two forms:

Acute.Chronic.

If there is an acute form of pathology, then the following manifestations are possible:

The appearance of pain during exercise or the training process. Gradually the pain subsides, and after rest it completely disappears.

If you feel the Achilles tendon, you feel discomfort.

If you give your legs a rest, the micro-tears heal, so it seems that everything has passed, but new loads lead to re-injury.

If you do not pay attention to the symptoms in time, then the pathology gradually becomes chronic, which has the following symptoms:

Gradual increase in pain. During exercise, the pain becomes stronger, even warming up and warming up do not help. Rest also does not relieve pain, you can already feel it immediately after waking up. During the descent or ascent of the stairs, a pain syndrome develops.

Both chronic and acute forms of the disease may also have the following manifestations:

The tendon thickens. There is excessive tension in the calf muscles. Mobility may be limited in the ankle area. Pain may be felt throughout the tendon or just in the heel area. There may be a creaking sensation when moving the ankle joint. It becomes increasingly difficult to bend the foot and stand on the toes.

Chronic Achilles tendonitis should not be allowed to develop. Treatment in this case will require longer and more serious treatment.

The disease can progress and manifest itself in different ways. Depending on this, several forms of pathology are distinguished:

Peritendinitis is manifested by an inflammatory process in the surrounding soft tissues. Tendinitis - the Achilles tendon itself is affected, adjacent tissues are not affected. Enthesopathy. With this form of the disease, a degenerative process develops at the border with the bone, and a heel spur may appear.

If Achilles tendonitis is suspected, treatment should begin only after the diagnosis has been clarified.

As diagnostic methods the following are used:

Physical examination. The doctor performs palpation and determines the places where the pain is felt most. Radiation diagnostics, but in the absence of calcifications, it will not help make an accurate diagnosis. MRI will help determine the presence of ruptures. Ultrasound. With its help, you can determine the need for surgical intervention. An X-ray examination is also carried out, it shows the location of the inflammatory process.

Once diagnosis confirms Achilles tendonitis, treatment should be prescribed by a doctor.

If unpleasant sensations in the tendon occur for the first time, then it is often enough to limit the load for a while and give your legs a rest. You can use ice to remove swelling and redness.

If the pain does not go away even after resting and reducing the load, you will have to visit a doctor. As a rule, treatment of this disease is carried out in several directions:

Conservative therapy. Drug treatment. Traditional methods of therapy. Physiotherapeutic procedures. Surgical intervention.

Depending on the severity of the disease, the doctor chooses treatment tactics.

If Achilles tendinitis occurs, treatment for tears or minor injuries should begin with reducing stress and immobilizing the area. This can be done in several ways:

Apply a splint or plaster. Use an elastic bandage. Taping. Apply orthoses that can partially or completely limit movement.

This is where treatment should begin if Achilles tendinitis occurs. The photo demonstrates this well.

Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - Nimesil, Naklofen. If there is an extensive inflammatory process, then antibacterial therapy may be required. To relieve pain, you can apply a compress at night using Analgin, Novocaine or inject an anesthetic. If Achilles tendonitis is diagnosed, treatment with ointments is also possible. For this purpose, Voltaren, Dolobene gel, and Solcoseryl are often used.

After using medications to relieve inflammation and reduce pain, you can begin physiotherapeutic procedures.

Physiotherapeutic methods are an excellent complement to drug treatment. The following procedures are most often prescribed to patients:

Magnetotherapy. Laser treatment. Ultrasound treatment. Shock wave therapy.

Electrophoresis. Mud applications.

Correctly carried out therapy, if Achilles tendinitis occurs (treatment and symptoms are presented to your attention in the article), will soon give a positive result. The pain subsides and mobility is restored.

Traditional treatment can help with many diseases. Achilles tendonitis also responds well to it. Most in effective ways can be called:

Ice massage. To do this, take plastic cups and pour water into them and place them in the freezer. When the liquid freezes, massage the injured area with the upper part of the container for 15-20 minutes several times a day. “Homemade plaster.” You need to beat the chicken protein and add 1 tablespoon of alcohol or vodka. Beat well and add a tablespoon of flour. Apply the mixture to an elastic bandage and bandage the sore spot. This bandage needs to be changed every day, it will help relieve swelling and pain. Traditional healers recommend adding turmeric to the diet. The curcumin it contains helps relieve pain and inflammation. Using salt dressings. First you need to dissolve a tablespoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Soak a napkin in the liquid, squeeze it out, wrap it in a bag and place it in the freezer for a few minutes. Apply to the sore spot and bandage it, hold until the napkin is completely dry.

If there is Achilles tendonitis, treatment with folk remedies can be carried out using infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs:

Prepare an infusion of a tablespoon of comfrey, calendula and 250 ml of hot water. Bring to a boil, leave for several hours, and then dilute 1 tablespoon of infusion in 300 ml of water and apply a bandage to the injured area. Compress from elecampane. You need to take 3 tablespoons of the herb and pour 0.5 liters of hot water, boil for 15 minutes. Soak a napkin in the broth and apply to the sore spot. Use pine branches to prepare baths. You need to take a bucket and fill it two-thirds with pine branches, add cold water and boil for half an hour. Then you need to leave for 2-3 hours and take baths for 15-20 minutes. Use a mixture of 2 drops of fir and lavender oils to rub the sore spot, and also add a teaspoon of any vegetable. Wormwood tincture has a restorative effect on the body and relieves inflammation. To prepare it, you need to take 2 tablespoons of dry herb and pour 250 ml of boiling water, after 30 minutes of infusion, take a tablespoon several times a day.

Calendula ointment will help cope with the inflammatory process. It’s quite simple to prepare: you need to mix equal amounts of baby cream and calendula flowers. It is best to apply to a sore spot at night. Take the same amount of pork fat and wormwood ointment, combine and melt over fire. After cooling, you can apply it to the affected area. You can prepare an ointment from clay. To do this, take 500 g of clay and dilute it in water to the consistency of mastic, and then add 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Then moisten a napkin in the resulting composition and apply to the sore spot for an hour. The course of therapy is up to 6 procedures and helps get rid of pain and swelling.

Thus, if a diagnosis of Achilles tendinitis is made, treatment with folk remedies will help you quickly return to your normal lifestyle.

If all conservative treatment methods have been tried, but there is no result, then you will have to resort to surgical intervention. During the operation, the doctor makes an incision and excises the affected area, and then the tendon is sutured. If there is a Haglund's growth, then it is also removed.

If you still had to resort to surgery for a disease such as Achilles tendonitis, treatment and rehabilitation after surgery will take a couple of months. You will have to wear a special boot for 6 weeks. Gradually, after about a couple of weeks, you can try to step on the operated leg.

After removing the orthosis, a rehabilitation course is prescribed that will help completely restore the functioning of the tendon. This usually takes from a month to three.

After surgery, a set of exercises will help you recover faster. Here are some recommendations for their implementation:

Walking comes first; for this you need to choose comfortable shoes and, while moving, perform a smooth roll from heel to toe. Walking time, speed and step length should be increased gradually. It is recommended to do tip-ups and half-squats. Exercises in water help recovery well. The body loses most of its weight, so those exercises that cannot be done in the gym at a certain period can be safely performed in the water. You can go jogging only after a good warm-up. It is useful to do exercises to stretch the calf muscles and tendons; to do this, stand near a wall and lean on hands, and put the injured leg back and rest on the toe. Remain in this position for 30 seconds. Stand on the edge of the platform and squat. This exercise improves the strength and elasticity of the Achilles tendon.

When performing any exercises, you must remember that the load should increase gradually. You can return to sports training only after the permission of your doctor.

We looked at a disease such as Achilles tendonitis. Treatment and prevention must be at the proper level to prevent the development of pathology. To do this, you should follow the following recommendations:

With age, the elasticity of the tendon decreases, so after 40 years it is necessary to lead an active lifestyle and include in the set of exercises those that will help to use the calf muscles. When playing sports or any load, you should not immediately start the main exercises, you must do a warm-up and stretching routine .All athletes must ensure compliance with the training regimen; muscles should not be overloaded. For any sports activities, you need to choose the right shoes.

If you consult a doctor with the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease and follow all recommendations for treatment and recovery, then the prognosis for Achilles tendonitis is quite favorable. Gradually, the tissues will recover, the inflammatory process will disappear, and it will be possible to return to a sports regime or normal lifestyle. But we must always remember that our health is only in our hands, so take care of yourself.

Man is the only animal from the class Mammals that has the ability to walk while maintaining vertical axis bodies. This feature was formed through modifications and genetic changes over a long period of human evolution. As a result, the lower limb and spinal column were formed to support walking, standing, running, sitting and other movements, maintaining an upright position of the body. To a greater extent, the lower spine takes on the axial load, but discount important role the structure and function of the lower limb is not worth it.

A significant role in the formation of human posture is played by the correct shape of the foot and the strength of the lower leg muscles. These two anatomical formations have a close relationship. If the shape of the foot is abnormal (flat feet), the load on the knee joint changes, which causes its disease. When a deforming disorder of the knee joint occurs, the function of the spine also suffers.

To ensure the health of the entire musculoskeletal and ligamentous system human body First of all, you need to take care of your feet. The Achilles ligament plays a leading role in the development of an anatomically and physiologically correct foot.

Pain in the Achilles tendon brings a person not only inconvenience in moving, but also gradually leads to the formation of diseases that affect the entire human skeleton.

Symptoms of Achilles ligament disease

The Achilles ligament is located in the heel area. This is the strongest tendon in the human body, which provides attachment to the calf muscle to the heel bone, and allows the ankle joint to move, and, therefore, maintain upright standing, walking and running.

Achilles can get sick in a wide variety of situations. But the method of treating this organ is quite uniform and has general trends and principles. It is worth noting that every doctor faced with inflammation and pain in the Achilles tendon prescribes necessary treatment, which is aimed at quickly restoring the function and condition of the Achilles. The patient’s task is to fulfill all the doctor’s conditions and prescriptions, which will ensure the desired result.

When contacting a specialist, who is a traumatologist, orthopedic traumatologist or orthopedic surgeon, the appearance of the lower leg is first assessed and the patient’s complaints are listened to. It is important to note that often the patient himself tells how he received the injury, which is important for making a preliminary diagnosis.

Complaints of a patient with an Achilles tendon injury:

Pain symptom (pain when walking, moving the foot, supporting the leg, walking in heels).
Creaking when moving the foot.
Crunching or crackling on the back of the shin when the leg is extended (the Achilles can also crunch when walking).
Tendon thickening and decreased mobility of the foot.
Formation of a lump in the ligament area.
Stiffness in walking in the morning due to discomfort in the foot.

Of course, the most important complaint that forces a person to see a doctor is pain. This is the first sign of damage to the ligament and the reason to treat it. Depending on the nature of the pain, the cause of the condition can be assumed. For example, if there is pain accompanied by crunching or cracking of the tendon, which appears when walking in heels, it is necessary to talk about weakness of the calf muscle and an unpronounced tuberosity of the heel bone, in the place where the Achilles is attached.

This unevenness develops during the constant load that the bone surface receives when walking. This condition can be treated by stretching the back of the leg and gradually increasing the load on the calf muscle.

Causes of pain in the Achilles tendon area

In order to understand why the Achilles tendon hurts and find reliable causes for this condition, you need to do a series of functional tests that will show the location of inflammation. By clarifying the mechanism of injury in the patient, the degree of damage can be determined and treatment tactics can be suggested. The final treatment option in traumatology is possible only after x-ray examination, tomography of the area that hurts or ultrasound.

The most common causes of inflammation in the Achilles:

Stretching.
Partial and complete rupture of the integrity of the tendon.
Tendon injury (bump, bruise, swelling).
Mechanical injury to the tendon (cut, puncture, tear by a foreign object).
Tendon infection due to injury (after a cut).
Dislocation of the ankle joint.

Achilles pain on the leg most often occurs due to injuries, which can be domestic or sports.

Domestic injuries occur due to excessive stress on an organ that is not prepared for this. And household injuries occur when work safety rules are not followed, falls, or wearing inappropriate shoes.

Diagnosis of pain in the Achilles tendon

First of all, before treating an injury, it is necessary to diagnose the nature of the ligament damage. For this purpose, instrumental research techniques are used.

Distributed data instrumental methods diagnostics for Achilles pain

Nature of injury	Ultrasound	X-ray
Ligament bruise	There are no signs of tendon disruption. There is no accumulation of fluid in the area of the ligament and muscle. There are no intramuscular hematomas. There is diffuse swelling of the tissue. Signs of inflammation and dysfunction.	There are no signs of violation of the integrity of bones and joints.
Ankle dislocation	There are no hemorrhages or signs of damage to the integrity of the bone structure. There is a violation of the ratio of articular surfaces that are not in an anatomical position.	The articular surfaces of the joint are not in the correct anatomical position. The bone structures are not damaged.
Achilles tendon rupture	Signs of partial or complete violation integrity of the tendon. At complete break there is a violation of the anatomical position of the calf muscle, there are internal hematomas and free fluid	Signs of violation of the integrity of bone structures with or without violation of the anatomical location of the articular surfaces. There is always a violation of the location of the lower leg muscles.

Diagnosis of Achilles tendon injuries is based not only on instrumental examination data.

Questioning and examining the patient also play an important role. Instrumental diagnostics are carried out to confirm the preliminary diagnosis.

Drug treatment for pain in the Achilles tendon

Algorithm of action in case of Achilles injury in any situation:

Apply cold.
Call an ambulance if it is clear from your appearance that a consultation will be needed.
Immobilize the limb and ensure its rest (take the position in which there is the least pain in the leg).
Take a pain reliever (ketorolac 1-2 tablets or diclofenac intramuscularly. The child is prescribed ibuprofen).
If there is an open wound, treat it with alcohol and apply a clean bandage.

Timely and correctly provided assistance can play a major role in the prognosis of the victim’s recovery. It is better to do nothing than to do something wrong and harm the person even more.

Do self-reduction of fractures at home, lubricate the limb various medications, apply traditional methods medicine, as well as the use of various techniques to correct the shape and integrity of a limb is strictly prohibited.

Treatment of the Achilles tendon depends on the degree of pain and the severity of the inflammatory process.

Acute Achilles injury without visible severe damage while maintaining the integrity of the skin	Rest, periodic application of cold for the first three days. Locally: a lotion of drugs: hydrocortisone, analgin, dimexide. Mix the medications ½ with water. Apply for the first three days. Anti-inflammatory ointment without a warming effect. IM: Baralgetas 5 ml for 3 days. After 72 hours after injury, a warm, dry compress can be used.
Acute injury with damage to the integrity of the skin and partial disruption of the integrity of the skin.	Complete immobilization of the limb. By mouth: Ibuprofen IM: Baralgetas 5 ml for 3 days. The place (on intact skin) is the same. Apply green paint to damaged skin to dry it. You can apply an antifungal agent to the wounds to prevent secondary infection. Local administration of anti-inflammatory drugs: Diclofenac 1 ml, Hydrocortisone 1 ml.
With a violation of the integrity of the bone and ligament.	Operation. Plaster application (removal of the cast is possible only after complete restoration of tendon function). Oral antibiotics (Ceftriaxone). Vaccination against botulism (if indicated). Inside and intramuscularly the same.
For chronic injury (one year or more).	Take a course once a month local treatment(5-6 times every other day). A course of physiotherapy once a year, san-kur treatment. Gymnastics daily.

For diffuse, not intense pain, the Achilles tendon can be treated at home. Although to be sure, it is better to consult a specialist.

When treating pain and inflammation in the Achilles tendon area, you can use some local treatment methods:

To successfully treat any tendon injury, you must follow some rules:

Rest your leg (if it hurts) right leg– lean on the left).
Carry out powerful anti-inflammatory therapy (administration of local drugs).
During the recovery period, do massage and gymnastics.
To prevent recurrence of the inflammatory process, undergo physiotherapy courses at least once a year.

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The Achilles tendon is very large, which is why it is most often exposed to negative impact. Inflammation of the Achilles tendon is characterized by certain symptoms and requires qualified treatment.

Causes of the pathological process

This tendon is exposed to high physical stress and negative factors every day, which can lead to inflammation. The causes of inflammation of the Achilles tendon are:

Professional sports, especially running and dancing. In this case, the tendon is subjected to frequent excessive loads;
Injury in the tendon area;
Wearing uncomfortable shoes, high heels;
Inflammatory bone diseases and soft tissues of the foot and ankle. In this case, the infection is transferred through the blood and lymph flow to nearby healthy tissues;
Congenital tendon pathology. Birth with a short tendon;
Metabolic disorders in the body, which leads to the deposition of salts (urates) in soft tissues;
Gout;
Chronic pathology of the lower extremities;
Elderly age can also cause inflammation. With age, the body experiences various changes. In particular, connective tissue becomes less elastic, which can lead to microtrauma and inflammation.

Symptoms of inflammation of the Achilles tendon

The clinical picture of inflammation or tendinitis of the Achilles is clear. Based on the presence of characteristic symptoms during examination, the doctor can make an accurate diagnosis. All symptoms are increasing in nature and over time the patient’s condition only worsens.

Pathological symptoms of inflammation of the Achilles tendon:

Soreness in the tendon area (lower third of the back of the leg). The pain intensifies with movement and walking. It should be noted that with rest, pain can significantly decrease or even disappear completely;
Swelling in the ankle area. This is due to an increase in the size of the inflamed tendon;
Hyperemia affected area. The skin becomes red;
Local hyperthermia, that is, an increase in temperature at the site of inflammation. The skin becomes hot to the touch;
Crunch in the tendon area during movement and walking;
The calf muscle is tense, which can manifest as unpleasant and even painful sensations;
Movement of the feet may be difficult/

If this pathology is not treated or the wrong therapy is selected, then the inflammatory process becomes chronic nature. This manifests itself in pain during physical activity, which does not go away completely even after a long rest.

Inflammation of the Achilles tendon in the heel

Inflammation can occur in any part of the Achilles. If inflammation occurs in the heel (the junction of the tendon and the heel bone), the disease is called achillobursitis. Features of the inflammatory process in the heel area:

Pain in the heel and ankle, which intensifies with weight bearing on the foot;
A person cannot stand on tiptoes or make a jump;
Swelling in the ankle joint, with swelling found on both sides of the joint;
Foot movements are severely limited and sometimes impossible. The patient cannot step on the affected limb.

In severe cases, inflammation can spread to surrounding bone and joint structures.

How to treat inflammation of the Achilles tendon

Treatment of inflammation of the Achilles tendon can be: conservative (medication, exercise therapy, massage and physiotherapy) most often has positive dynamics and surgery is performed in severe cases. If minor pain occurs in the Achilles area, surgeons and traumatologists recommend the following:

Ensure rest of the injured limb:
Refuse to wear uncomfortable shoes, high heels;
Apply an ice pack or cold compresses to the affected area;
Avoid sudden movements of the foot;
Using an elastic bandage to secure the tendon

If after the above measures no improvement is observed, then it is necessary to begin drug therapy.

Drug therapy

Achilles tendon can be treated with medication using following drug groups:

Analgesics(Analgin, Baralgin, Tempalgin and others). These drugs help relieve pain and relax tense muscles of the lower limb;
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs). The most commonly used are Ibuprofen, Nurofen or Naklofen). Data medicines help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, thereby reducing swelling;
Antibacterial agents, broad-spectrum drugs are more often prescribed. They are prescribed if the cause of inflammation is a bacterial infection;
Antipyretics used extremely rarely, in cases where the patient has general hyperthermia with high values (in weakened people with poor immunity);
Vitamin and mineral complexes indicated to strengthen defenses and speed up recovery;
Glucocorticosteroids. Blockades are carried out with these drugs, which help relieve intense pain. The drugs are injected into the soft tissue surrounding the tendons.

All of the above drugs are used in the form of tablets and injections. They also make compresses with Analgin to reduce discomfort. In some cases, it may be necessary to immobilize the ankle using a cast or special orthopedic devices.

Use of medicinal ointments

Ointments are used to treat inflammation of the Achilles tendon. They have a complex effect on the body depending on the active ingredients they contain. Ointments that are prescribed for inflammation of the Achilles help to initial stage diseases, as well as mild form pathologies:

Physiotherapeutic procedures and massage

Along with basic drug treatment, physiotherapy is carried out. This type of treatment helps relieve tension in the affected tendon and muscles of the lower leg, reducing inflammation and swelling.

Types of physical therapy treatments that are used in the treatment of Achilles tendonitis:

Ultrasound therapy;
Electrophoresis with lidase helps reduce pain;
Magnetotherapy;
Mud therapy. Mud applications are applied to the sore spot;
Treatment with laser.

This procedure should only be performed by a specialist (massage therapist), otherwise the tendon may be further damaged.

Treatment of inflammation of the Achilles tendon at home with folk remedies

If the pain is not severe, then this pathology can be treated at home using traditional medicine recipes. However, in this case, you should first seek advice from a doctor (general practitioner, surgeon).

Rest of the limb. It is necessary to unload the sore leg. In the first days, you need to move carefully and rest more, while placing your foot on a soft surface;
Coldness to the sore spot;
Introduce a large amount of calcium-rich foods into your diet (fermented milk products);
Apply a tight bandage.

If you cannot get rid of the disease at home, you need to contact a specialist again to adjust the therapy.

You can treat inflammation of the Achilles tendon at home using traditional medicine recipes:

Compress with onion pulp. To prepare it, chop the onion heads (3 medium-sized onions) using a grater or meat grinder. Mix the resulting mass with sea salt(2 tablespoons). Apply the resulting mixture to gauze and bandage it to the sore spot;
Lavender oil You can lubricate the affected area. This product can be purchased at any pharmacy;
Ice treatment. Pour water into a plastic container and freeze. After freezing, the upper part of the vessel must be massaged into the sore spot. This will help reduce pain, swelling and inflammation.

Surgery

Surgical treatment is indicated when conservative therapy is ineffective for a long time (6 months or more). The operation is performed to examine the inflamed tendon and excise the altered connective tissue fibers. In the postoperative period, the limb is immobilized using a plaster cast.

During the first 4 weeks, stepping on the affected leg is strictly prohibited to avoid damage to the stitched tendon.

The rehabilitation period lasts 1.5 months. It includes both drug treatment, as well as the use of physiotherapeutic treatment, physical therapy and massage. All these measures are aimed at restoring the functioning of the tendon and preventing re-inflammation and the occurrence of various complications.

How long does it take to treat Achilles tendinitis?

The duration of treatment depends on several factors:

The severity of the pathology;
Timeliness of seeking help;
Correctness of treatment;
General condition of the body and immunity.

At mild inflammation with moderate or minimal pain, recovery can be observed after 7 to 10 days, subject to all doctor’s recommendations.

Significant inflammation with timely consultation with a doctor and adequate therapy, is treated in 2 – 4 weeks. In some cases, the disease lasts several months.

After surgical treatment, recovery takes a long time, from 30 days to 3 months.

A common foot condition is inflammation of the Achilles tendon. An inflammatory reaction in the heel bone is more often diagnosed in people who play sports professionally. In medicine, such a disorder in the Achilles area is usually called tendonitis or tendinopathy. The patient experiences pain that intensifies in the morning or when walking, and impaired motor function is noted.

If the inflammatory process in the legs is not detected in time, it develops, leading to rupture or separation of the heel tendon from the bone.

Why is it developing: the main reasons?

Inflammation of the Achilles tendon is more often observed in the fairer sex, who abuse wearing shoes with high heels or a wedge. In the evening hours, women complain of painful sensations above the heel, which are explained by the constant shortening of the tendon. Other reasons can also influence the development of tendinitis:

Increased loads. Because of this factor, the joint often becomes inflamed in athletes, which is associated with a lack of timely rest. In this case, the Achilles and other structures do not have time to recover, which leads to a loss of the ability to relax.
Age changes. U healthy person the Achilles on the legs are stretched by 5% of the entire length, due to which shock absorption is provided. After the age of 35, they are not able to stretch as much, and if they do not warm up thoroughly before playing sports, the fibers are damaged and their integrity is compromised.
Flat feet, in which the foot falls in inner part. The pathology leads to excessive tension on the moving joints located near the Achilles tendon.
Haglund's deformity. Inflammation of the junction of the Achilles and the bone is associated with the formation of a bone spur that looks like a lump. When violated, severe stretching of the tendon occurs. The neoplasm can have a soft or hard structure, which depends on whether there is inflammation of the tendon bursa.
Infectious lesions of acute or chronic course. Diseases of this nature serve as an impetus for the progression of inflammation in the Achilles area.

Varieties

Inflammation of the Achilles tendon (Achillitis) is divided into several forms, each of which manifests itself with characteristic symptoms. The table shows the main types of violations and features:

Characteristic symptoms of inflammation of the Achilles tendon

A sign of the disease may be a feeling of tension in the calves.

If your Achilles tendon hurts, you should consult a doctor immediately. This could be the first sign inflammatory reaction. Disease on the feet can be accompanied by pain of various forms. The pain usually intensifies when climbing stairs and during physical activity. With tendonitis, the patient experiences a pain attack regularly and does not go away after rest. A person may notice inflammation due to other symptoms:

the movable joint in the heel area is swollen and swollen;
the skin on and above the heel turns red;
there is constant tension in the calves;
it is difficult to bend the foot or rise on the toes;
tendons thickened;
skipping or crunching noise during movements that is heard in the ankle area.

When the Achilles tendon becomes inflamed, the patient develops a thickening localized 2-5 cm above the junction of the ligamentous apparatus with the bones.

Diagnostic procedures

Using the Thompson test, you can distinguish an inflammatory process from a tendon rupture.

As soon as the patient feels pain in the Achilles tendon, it is necessary to immediately contact a medical facility for help. Treating inflammation at home without knowing its cause is unwise and dangerous. The doctor examines the damaged lower limb and finds out under what circumstances the deviation occurred. To distinguish inflammation from tendon rupture, it is necessary to perform the Thompson test, which is performed in the following sequence:

The patient assumes a horizontal position with his stomach down.
The feet are located below the level of the body.
The doctor presses on the calf muscles.
When the foot flexes, a negative diagnosis is made. If the sole of the foot remains motionless, a rupture of the Achilles ligament is diagnosed.

In addition, inflammation can be determined using the following laboratory and instrumental examinations:

X-ray pictures. Degenerative changes and inflammatory processes are noted, as well as areas of calcification, which are enlarged tendon shadows.
MRI and CT. Is optional in a diagnostic way, in which it is possible to distinguish inflammation from degenerative changes. In the first case, there is an accumulation of exudate in the Achilles tendon, while the soft tissue remains of its natural size. When thickening occurs, scarring occurs, leading to rupture.
Echography. During manipulation, the damaged area is examined using ultrasound. This method makes it possible to determine the degree of deviation and contraction of the tendon.
General blood test and analysis for rheumatoid tests. Diagnosis is required if the development of the disease due to infection or rheumatism is suspected.

What to do and how to treat?

Medications

Lidocaine compresses can be applied externally.

If the Achilles heel hurts, then the elimination of the inflammatory process should be carried out by a doctor, using several therapeutic methods. The main thing is to use pharmaceuticals. They relieve unpleasant symptoms and inflammation. When taking tablets and using local remedies, it is recommended to bandage tightly or wear a plaster cast. The main medications are presented in the table.

If your body temperature rises due to inflammation of the Achilles tendon, you need to take an antipyretic. The patient also needs to use vitamin and mineral supplements to help strengthen the immune system.

Traditional treatment

The patient benefits from consuming turmeric.

It is possible to cure tendinopathy using unconventional methods, which are important to coordinate with your doctor. At home, ointments, compresses, decoctions and other medicinal products are prepared from natural ingredients. Effective recipes:

Turmeric. Is a natural antibacterial agent. To alleviate the condition, it is recommended to use 0.5 g of seasoning daily.
Walnut. For the recipe you will need not the product itself, but its partitions, from which a vodka-based tincture is prepared. Leave for about 3 weeks, after which 1 tsp is taken orally. twice a day.
Pine-salt baths. It is recommended to keep your feet in a warm solution for about 10 minutes.

Surgery

If traditional and conservative treatment of inflammation does not bring results, surgery is prescribed. During surgery, thickened areas and damaged tissue adjacent to the tendon are excised. If a large number of the latter are cut out, then they are replaced with plantar muscles. Surgical intervention is also necessary if Achilles tendinopathy occurs in the background. In this case, the bone growth is excised, which puts pressure on the place where the tendon is fixed. After the operation, rehabilitation is required, including performing gymnastic exercises. Physiotherapeutic procedures and massage are also carried out during recovery.