Is Your Achilles Heel Your Weakness?
By Sara Butler
If you're suffering from pain in your Achilles heel, then you're not alone. It's a common problem, especially among people who are very physically active or participate in activities that require repetitive motion in the ankle joint. Here are a few of the things the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic want you to know about your Achilles and how they can help if you're in pain.
Your Achilles Heel
Your Achilles tendon is in your calf, on the back of your lower leg. It's actually made up of two separate muscles: the soleus and the gastrocnemius muscles. This area is also home to two bursa sacs that work to lubricate the joints in the lower leg. When the joints become inflamed due to overuse or injury, then these sacs also become inflamed.
How can you injure this area? Repetitive actions, such as biking or running, cause your Achilles to rub up against the bone in your heel. This action can actually cause part of the tendon to become calcified, basically creating a new bone in the areas that can then push on the bursa sac and cause swelling and irritation.
You can also have pain as the result of the muscles that make up your Achilles tendon tightening from the additional stress being placed on the area.
What to Do
Problems with your Achilles won't go away on their own, which is why you need to be proactive to treat issues as you move forward -- both literally and figuratively. You should make sure to wear the right shoes for whatever activity you're participating in, such as walking or running. You also need to work on your overall health by caring for your health and maintaining a healthy weight.
If you do injure the Achilles tendon, then it can take quite a while to heal. That's why prevention is so important. When you feel the area becoming irritated, then stop exercising. Make sure to see your chiropractor so they can help you work toward recovery. They'll likely suggest you do some gentle stretching along with cold therapy to help.
If you've not quite gotten to the point of pain but have felt stiffness in the area, then don't delay in seeing the chiropractor. You may have an underlying issue, such as a joint restriction or dysfunction, that could be causing the problem. Once that is resolved, then your muscles and tendons can function normally and heal as they are supposed to.
If you have concerns about pain in your heel, then talk to the chiropractors at The Joint today!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Austin, Tex.