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Achilles Tendinopathy
The Achilles tendon is a strong arrangement of collagen fibers at the back of the ankle which connects the heel bone to the two calf muscles. Achilles tendinopathy is a condition which results from injury to the tendon. There are several ways this could happen, for instance, the tendon may degenerate or become worn down, or there might be tiny tears in the fibers or even the formation of small cysts in the tendon. The condition is recognized by pain and stiffness which slowly develops just above the heel bone. Initially the pain might appear as soon as you wake in the morning or after a period of rest. But over time the pain worsens and is clearly apparent when the foot is exercised. At this stage the tendon might become stiff and slightly swollen. Sports persons are more prone to this condition because of the demands they impose on their feet.
Depending on how severe the condition is your podiatrist will recommend a course of treatment which might include wearing supportive footwear, stretching the calf muscles or relieving the load on the tendon by using small heel raises in each shoe. Your treatment might require physiotherapy and even medication to contain the pain. Surgery is a last resort if the tendon does not improve over a period of time with the other treatment.
Foot and Ankle Associates is a Los Gatos, CA clinic focused on providing podiatric healthcare. Its services range from routine examinations to treatment of the severest foot conditions. It also deals with sports-related foot conditions including Achilles tendinopathy. A visit to its website, http://www.sjfeet.com gives you an insight into this specialty healthcare center.
