The Achilles tendon is an essential component of human anatomy that, by enabling various forms of movement, aids in weight-bearing and promotes an active, healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, it's also a part of the body that bears weight and may experience Achilles tendinitis, a condition marked by discomfort and inflammation.
While this condition is frequently only a problem for older people who lead reasonably active lives, it can be a crippling problem that could impair one's ability to walk and necessitate surgery if not treated before any damage done becomes irreversible.
Fortunately, tendinitis can be avoided and cured easily if its symptoms are recognized and addressed quickly.
Tendons and the Root Causes
The Achilles tendon, also known as the heel cord, connects the calf muscles and heel bone to form a functional component of the leg that enables superior mobility. It holds the distinction of being the strongest tendon in the human body. Without it, it would be impossible to stand on one's toes, which would make balancing a challenge. Unfortunately, tendon injuries are not uncommon and can significantly impair one's ability to walk because of the strain placed on it during even a brief walking cycle.
The likelihood of sustaining a tendon injury is highest among people who engage in frequent physical activity, and that likelihood only rises with advancing age. An injury to one of the body's most important tendons is not comparable to a pulled muscle, despite the fact that everybody who engages in a rigorous physical fitness regimen is sure to experience muscle discomfort at some point in their career.
Tendon issues are among the most common injuries that older people are prone to. Any component of your body that has endured years of use and abuse will lose some of its ability to support you, and it is practically difficult to avoid using your Achilles tendon at some point in your life.
To make matters worse, even something as basic as wearing the wrong shoes can result in tension or injury that may cause more tendon problems. Therefore, in order to prevent the occurrence of Achilles tendonitis, experts recommend wearing comfortable and high-quality DrLuigi medical shoes. Especially, because there is a clear association between poor footwear or lack of arch support and tendon injuries.
Tendon Injury Prevention: A Care Guide
Achilles tendinitis can unfortunately not be prevented with absolute certainty. Modern medicine still has a lot to learn about how activity, footwear, a person's propensity for muscle damage, and other factors relate to one another. On the other hand, even if you lead an active lifestyle, there are techniques to greatly lower your risk of developing tendon injuries, so all is not lost.
- Refrain from Donning Unsuitable Footwear
Start by making sure your shoes are suited for your present job or exercise routine. Shoes or boots that support your arches and absorb impact from walking or jogging impact through the use of cushioning bottoms should be worn for any type of profession that demands you to move around frequently or spend the most of the day on your feet. Making sure your shoes fit properly will help protect you against ankle and tendon injuries that could develop into more severe problems.
- Remember to warm up before working out
Stretching beforehand can guarantee that your muscles and tendons are warmed up and prepared to work out, or even just before you start your day. Without a warm-up, beginning any high-intensity activity frequently results in pulled muscles at best and significant strains at worst.
In a similar spirit, it is sage to approach exercise cautiously, opting to partake in just those activities you are certain your body is capable of handling. For example, jogging before moving on to full runs gives your body time to adjust and develops muscle that can prevent injury.
Keep an eye on the exercises you choose to do. Your body must modify to compensate for the varied heights and barriers you encounter while running, making movement up or down hills particularly risky for tendon problems. When jogging or running, stay away from steep places, and cease doing whatever exercise is causing tendon pain right away.
- Modify Your Daily Schedule
Even though running five days a week is wonderful for your cardiovascular system, it also repeatedly and continuously stresses the same parts of your body. If at all possible, alternate high-intensity and low-intensity workouts throughout the week. Cycling and swimming are excellent forms of exercise that are far easier on your body than running on any surface, but you should still warm up and stretch properly before taking part in these activities.
Summary
In the end, there is almost no way to ensure that you won't ever experience Achilles tendonitis. There are various strategies to reduce the likelihood that it may interfere with your regular activities, and using common sense will keep you safe.
As usual, seek emergency medical care if you begin to experience stiffness or discomfort in your tendons and find that it is affecting your quality of life.