How do I speed up the healing of an inflamed Achilles tendon?

Do you have inflammation in the Achilles tendon and want to know how to speed up healing? This blog will tell you how.

 

The Achilles tendon is a tendon that connects the calf muscle and the heel bone. When using the legs, a lot of tension is put on this tendon. It is important that the Achilles tendon is strong enough, since it is used when walking, running or jumping, for example.

 

The cause of Achilles tendinitis is usually due to overuse of the tendon. This usually happens in athletes who use their Achilles tendon intensively. In addition, ageing tendon tissue, obesity, short calf muscles and incorrect foot position can also lead to inflammation in the Achilles tendon.

 

Achilles tendinitis occurs regularly. As a result, a nasty pain can be felt several centimetres above the heel. But how do you get rid of it?

 

Treatment

There are several ways to speed up the healing of your Achilles tendon. However, make sure you perform these ways carefully. When you do so, you will soon feel pain reduction around the tendon. These are the main treatment methods:

 

Rest 

When taking rest, the symptoms often disappear quickly. So avoid activities such as (hard) running and jumping for a while. If you give the Achilles tendon enough rest, it will gradually heal on its own.

 

Night splint

By wearing a splint, the tendon is constantly stretched. This speeds up the healing of the inflamed Achilles tendon.

 

Medication

When it is difficult to rest the Achilles tendon constantly, it is advisable to take anti-inflammatory medication. It is advised to continue taking these medications for 6 weeks. This will soon reduce the symptoms.

 

Exercises

When there are problems with the Achilles tendon, it is good to stretch the Achilles tendon as much as possible. This is because it makes the tendon stronger. This can be done through exercises. These can be done through a physiotherapist, but are also simple to do at home.

Want to know more about different exercises for the Achilles tendon? Then click here for more information.

 

Shoes and/or insoles

Wrong or worn-out shoes is one of the causes of an inflamed Achilles tendon. By wearing shoes with a slightly higher heel, there is less tension on the Achilles tendon. Thereby, it is also possible to put insoles with heel elevation in your shoes. However, these insoles should be placed in both shoes. Otherwise, there may be a leg-length difference.

 

Achilles tendon support

An effective way to get rid of your Achilles tendinitis is by wearing an Achilles tendon brace. This brace provides you with good support and will help you recover from Achilles tendinitis.

 

Achilles tendon taping 

Taping the Achilles tendon with sports tape, can effectively aid healing. It gives the tendon more support, reducing the strain on it. The Achilles tendon can be taped by the physiotherapist, but it is also possible to do it yourself.

 

When can I use my Achilles tendon again? 

Achilles tendon problems can often take a very long time to heal. It is important to take the recovery process seriously, though. So try to put as little strain on your Achilles tendon as possible, by avoiding sports that put too much strain on your Achilles tendon. Instead, sports such as swimming or cycling are possible. Just keep in mind that when you experience pain, stop irritating the tendon right away. When you have no more pain for a long time, you can gradually build up your sports and exercise again.

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