At Family Foot and Ankle Center, we’re all about prevention. The best way to deal with a problem like Achilles tendinitis is to avoid getting it in the first place.
Perfect prevention, unfortunately, is impossible—especially if you want to live a healthy, active lifestyle through middle age and beyond. However, there are a number of activities, footwear choices, and other factors that can are often guilty of contributing to a bad case of tendinitis, and knowing how the condition usually forms can help you minimize your risk.
Achilles tendinitis can happen to anyone at any age, though it’s most common among middle-aged adult men, as well as those who engage in lots of high-impact exercise (such as running, basketball, or tennis)—particularly those who launch themselves into new activities without taking the time to build up a tolerance, as well as “weekend warrior” types who pack a lot of intense exercise into brief windows of time when they’re not working or in school.
For your exercise program, ease off a bit on the hill running and impact sports and incorporate some low-impact cross-training into your routine, such as cycling, elliptical, or swimming. Whenever you try a new sport or exercise, especially after a long period of inactivity, build up slowly—don’t try to go from zero to ten miles in a weekend!
Bad shoes are another common culprit. Make sure you’re wearing the correct shoes for your sport, they fit correctly, and provide proper support for both your arch and your heel. You may benefit from arch support or heel lift inserts, especially if you have an existing foot problem such as flat feet.
Hopefully by following these tips, you can continue to live a healthy, active life without ever developing tendinitis in your Achilles. However, if you do notice chronic aches and pains or swelling in your tendon, especially if discomfort is severe and gets worse with exercise, call Family Foot and Ankle Center for treatment. The sooner you visit one of our experts, the less damage your tendon will sustain and the more likely conservative treatments will be effective. To schedule an appointment at one our Greater Cincinnati locations, contact us online or call toll free at 888-689-3317.
