What is Tendonitis?
Tendonitis is a condition that occurs when tissues that connect muscles to bones are overworked and get inflamed. Repetitive activities can cause tendonitis and it commonly occurs in joints like the elbow, knee, hip and ankle. Tendonitis can be either short or long-term and the symptoms can be acute or severe.
Causes of Tendonitis
Tendonitis of the ankle can be caused by the overexertion of tendons due to repetitive activities using the ankle. It is a common occurrence in runners, football players and other athletes who take part in high intensity sports for a long time. It can even afflict people who do intense workouts. Some other conditions that can cause tendonitis include illnesses like gout, certain blood and kidney diseases, and arthritis.
Best Ways to Treat Tendonitis
Tendonitis usually manifests as swelling and pain around the ankle which gets worse after exercise or after using that leg. The first-line of treatment includes avoiding activities that aggravate the problem, resting and icing the area. OTC pain and inflammation medication should suffice.
If the pain had initially been ignored and as a result the condition worsened, advanced treatments may be needed, such as corticosteroid injections for pain and inflammation. The foot doctor may also suggest physical therapy to strengthen the muscles in that area once you are completely pain free. Surgery may be recommended only if the condition does not respond to conservative treatments and compromises quality of life.
Prevention of Tendonitis
Tendonitis can be prevented by following certain precautions. These include:
- Taking a break at regular intervals during any kind of repetitive activity.
- Always maintaining a good posture.
- Avoiding sitting with the leg folded under.
- Stopping any repetitive activity if there is pain.
- Stretching before starting a sports activity.
- Wearing proper sized and fitted shoes and using good sports equipment.
- Always starting a new activity slowly and then gradually increasing the activity level.
With a little care, the right footwear and timely podiatric help, tendonitis can either be avoided or treated quite easily.
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