Don’t let heel pain slow you down
Achilles tendonitis is one of the two most common causes of heel pain. The other is plantar fasciitis.
Heel pain from achilles tendonitis is a common complaint in athletes. But it can affect anyone who likes to spend time on their feet.
The good new is, a combination of chiropractic and Active Release can stop heel pain fast. In fact, most people feel relief in just a few visits.
So read on to learn more about heel pain. And when you’re ready, give Dr. Keith McGahey at Eastside Chiropractic Group a call. He’s been helping people with heel pain since 1998, and chances are he can help you too.
Heel Pain – The Achilles Connection
Your Achilles tendon is what connects your calf muscles to the back of your heel. It helps to translate power from your calves to your feet when you walk, run and jump. Normally your achilles tendon does a great job with this. But when it’s overworked, it can become painful and inflamed, usually where it attaches to your heel.
This type of heel pain is more common in people who spend a lot of time on their feet. And if some of that time is spent being active and exercising, your risk increases. In fact, any repetitive activity involving your feet and calves can lead to achilles tendonitis. If you’re starting to feel heel pain, don’t ignore it. These injuries are much more difficult to treat once they become chronic.
What’s Causing My Heel Pain?
Different types of Achilles Tendon injuries
Activities like walking, running, exercise and playing sports can put a lot of stress on your Achilles tendon. Over time, that can lead to tiny tears, called micro-tears, in the tendon.
Achilles Tendonitis
In the early stages of injury, these little tears result in pain and inflammation near the heel. This early stage injury is referred to as tendonitis. The goal with treatment in this case is to rest and reduce inflammation.
Achilles Tendinosis
Without proper treatment and rest, Achilles tendonitis can become chronic. This is called tendinosis and is the result of improper healing. With tendinosis, scar tissue forms in the tendon, making it stiff, painful, and more prone to injury. There is very little inflammation here, so the treatment strategy needs to change.
With continued overuse, or lack of proper treatment, your Achilles Tendon can rupture altogether. In this case, you may be looking at surgery.
Common Symptoms – Heel Pain & More!
The most common symptom of an Achilles tendon injury is heel pain. Usually just above the heel where the tendon attaches. Your pain may be mild at first, but can worsen with continued use. Activities like jumping, climbing stairs, running, exercise and standing can make your pain worse. Pointing your toes may also be painful.
And because we’re on our feet so much, sometimes we compensate for this type of injury. In other words, you might favor one side when you walk because your heel hurts. This ‘compensation’ can often lead to pain in other areas. Lower back pain and hip pain are common with chronic tendon injuries. So is foot pain and plantar fasciitis. Your best weapon against these complaints? Don’t allow your injury to become chronic.
Effective Treatment For Heel Pain
Heel pain is easy with the right treatment
In the early stages of injury, your best friend is likely ice and rest (see a doctor!). But if your injury has been around for a little while, inflammation is the least of your worries. With a tendon injury that has become chronic, there’s very little inflammation present. These injuries need to be treated more aggressively in order to heal them properly.
And one of the best ways to do this is with a treatment technique called Active Release (ART). ART is considered the gold standard for soft tissue treatment. It can help break up scar tissue in your Achilles tendon, leg and foot, and have your heel pain feeling better in a hurry. Chiropractic can help the stiff joints in your ankles and feet that typically go along with an Achilles tendon injury. It’s an effective treatment combination that can have you out of pain and feeling better fast.
Ready To Feel Better?
If heel pain is slowing you down, help is just a call or click away. Dr. McGahey can help you get to the source of the problem and create a treatment plan to help eliminate your pain as quickly as possible. No referral is necessary, and Dr. McGahey is a preferred provider with most insurance plans.
Get Help Now!
Call or click today to schedule an appointment with Dr. McGahey. You’ll be glad you did!