The Achilles tendon often becomes stretched, swollen, and tender from the repetitive stress and pressure of overuse that occurs in sports, exercise, and being on your feet all day for work. Athletes and dancers are very susceptible to Achilles tendon injury, and people who are just starting out on an exercise program without warming up properly, are commonly seen by podiatrists for tendonitis and severe Achilles tendon injuries.

Some of the treatments for Achilles tendonitis include the following:

• The RICE protocol—Rest the affected foot; use ice packs and a compression bandage to reduce swelling; elevate the foot to relieve pressure.
• Physical therapy exercises—A variety of physical therapy exercises that include stretches for the heel and calf muscles are excellent for slowly strengthening the tendon without causing further injury. Check with your podiatrist.
• Custom orthotic inserts—A variety of insulating pads and inserts can be fabricated by your foot doctor to redirect pressure away from the heel area.
• Switch activities—Try low-impact activities like swimming and cycling.
• Surgical repair and reattachment—For a severely damaged or torn Achilles tendon, surgery may be necessary.

When you’re playing sports or exercising, it may be tempting to ignore or minimize the initial symptoms present when the Achilles tendon injury occurred, but continuing to play on can cause a severe injury that takes months to heal.

Always treat tendonitis promptly so the condition doesn’t worsen. For Achilles tendonitis treatment and any other problems you may have with your feet and ankles, we highly recommend that you consult our board-certified podiatrists. Call Syracuse Podiatry located in East Syracuse, New York. Dr. Ryan L. D’Amico, Dr. Kathleen Pyatak-Hugar, and Dr. Donal M. Erickson and their staff will help you diagnose and treat your foot or ankle condition. Call 315-446-3668 or make an appointment online today.