Your Achilles tendon is the biggest tendon in your body, so it’s no surprise that it handles a lot of stress and force each and every day. Aside from tendon tears, individuals who damage their Achilles tendon are prone to tendinitis or degeneration of the tendon, both of which can cause pain, discomfort and inhibited function.
But what are some of the common causes of Achilles tendon tears or damage? We take a closer look at some of the risk factors for Achilles tendon damage in today’s blog.
Risk Factors For Achilles Tendon Damage
Some of the risk factors for Achilles tendon tearing, damage or inflammation include:
- A significant change in activity levels (which is why we always recommend gradually increasing exercise distance or intensity).
- Tight or weakened calf muscles.
- Excessive pronation when walking or running.
- Chronic ankle instability.
- Unequal leg length.
- Regularly wearing high heels, as this can serve to shorten your Achilles tendon.
- Overstress, especially during athletic training.
- Having naturally high arches.
- Having certain types of arthritis, like psoriatic arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis, may predispose you to Achilles tendon injury.
As you can see, there are a variety of ways that you can put your Achilles tendon at risk for damage or inflammation. The key here is to focus on the controllable aspects. When it comes to prevention, all you have to do is be aware of the risks and take steps to mitigate their affect on your body.
For example, you can work to prevent Achilles tendon injuries by participating in a calf muscle strengthening routine, working to strengthen your ankle ligaments to prevent ankle instability, limiting your time in high heeled shoes, slowly ramping up your activity levels in sports or exercise, caring for other arthritis conditions and wearing shoes that take account for your naturally high arches.
If you have been bothered by Achilles tendon discomfort and want help calming the inflammation or addressing the underlying issues affecting your Achilles tendon, reach out to Dr. Silverman’s office. We specialize in treating Achilles tendon-related issues, and we can get you back to sport or athletic activity quicker than if you tried to manage it on your own. For more information, or for answers to your health questions, reach out to Dr. Silverman’s office today.
