If you are feeling a burning pain, stiffness or tenderness in the back of your heel and ankle, chances are that tendonitis is settling in for the long haul. It is a common yet debilitating condition affecting many of our Brighton Road Podiatry patients. However, with a wealth of experience treating tendonitis, our podiatry team will help rehabilitate your Achilles tendon quickly and effectively.

Tendonitis explained

Simply put, tendonitis, also commonly called Achilles tendonitis, is when the tendon becomes inflamed or has suffered micro-tears. Pain is often accompanied by swelling or redness and, in severe circumstances, a thick band of scar tissue can grow around the tendon.  There are many tendons associated with your foot and lower leg (not only the famous Achilles!)

Contributing factors of achilles tendonitis include:

• Overuse of the muscles and Achilles tendon
• Repetitive movements, such as running or jumping
• Hard training surfaces, such as pavements
• Poor footwear
• Foot biomechanics, such as flat foot or a high arch
• Obesity

Assessing and treating any underlying causes of your tendonitis is the key towards long term tendon health. Our podiatrist’s will recommend a treatment plan to ensure effective healing of the tendon and address of the root cause of the tendonitis.

As soon as you notice pain in your Achilles tendon region or any other area of your foot, take action by following the RICE rule at home. Rest – Ice – Compression – Elevation … Then call Brighton Road Podiatry to schedule an assessment with our friendly team.

There are many proven therapies for Achilles tendonitis such as:

• Strapping and footwear advice
• A stretch and strengthen regime
• Shockwave therapy
• Orthotics
• Dry needling
• In rare cases, surgery

Early intervention is keyThe damage to your tendons has happened for a reason – and it’s our job to assess and treat it quickly. Early intervention ensures further damage and micro-tears are avoided, and that scar tissue is managed effectively. Our Brighton Road Podiatry team are highly experienced at treating tendonitis. Help is just a call away.