MA Podiatrist Discusses Treatment of Achilles Tendinitis
Obesity, overuse, and high heels can shorten and tighten the Achilles tendon at the back of the heel, where you feel pain, said Dr. Jim Ioli, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Harvard Medical School. This usually goes away with rest and a lower shoe heel.
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Dr. James Ioli |
Quick fix: Rest, elevate and ice the painful area, and take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil) if your doctor says it’s okay. Do calf stretches when you’re feeling better. Switch to shoes with heels no higher than an inch and a half.
Long-term fix: “You’ll want to immobilize the heel in a walking cast, which will rest the tendon. Physical therapy with iontophoresis can help. It uses electrical current to push cortisone through the skin into the heel,” Ioli said.
Source: Buffalo News via Harvard Health Letter
