The Achilles tendon is a strong, fibrous cord located at the back of the foot, thus connecting the heel bone to the calf muscles. Its main function is plantar flexion and thus propels the gait when walking, running or jumping.
If this tendon is overloaded or abruptly stretched, it automatically tears, resulting in the pathology known as Achilles tendinitis. As this is a common injury in athletes and middle-aged people, it is useful to know what it is and how it can be improved with the help of a compression ankle brace.
What is Achilles tendinitis and what are its symptoms?
The Achilles tendon is characterised by supporting the weight of the body when pushing off with the toes when walking, running or jumping. When this tendon undergoes excessive activity that causes some damage to the tendon, tendonitis develops.
Achilles tendon tendonitis is an inflammation, irritation and swelling of the Achilles tendon tissue and is considered a mild condition as long as it is treated in time. More severe cases involve rupture of the tendon which, as a result, requires surgical repair.
It is an ailment that usually affects athletes, especially those between the ages of 30 and 50. This type of injury occurs when runners suddenly increase the duration or intensity of their training.
There are specific causes and risk factors that tend to lead to this inflammation:
- Ankle overload.
- Repetitive strain on the Achilles tendon.
- Sudden increase in activity in terms of quantity or intensity.
- Lack of warm-up before exercise.
- Frequent running in inappropriate footwear.
- Walking on hard or uneven surfaces.
- Jumping exercises without a sufficient level of training.
- Accumulated tightness in the calf muscles
- Age or ageing
- Physical problems such as obesity
- Other diseases (psoriasis or high blood pressure).
To diagnose the condition on the Achilles tendon you should be aware of the following signs and symptoms:
- Pain in the lower leg and above the heel.
- Pain when stretching the foot and caused by the pressure exerted by the footwear.
- Stiffness and discomfort in the heel, especially in the morning.
- Inflammation and swelling in the Achilles tendon.
- Weakness in the injured leg
- Clicking or crunching sound when the heel is pressed.
- Feeling of warmth in the area
- Difficulty standing on one toe.
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What are the benefits of using a compression ankle brace to treat Achilles tendonitis?
Initial treatments to slow down this type of tendonitis do not involve surgery. After obtaining the patient's precise diagnosis, the healthcare professional will choose to define a personalised protocol that will manage to attack the injury in the shortest possible time, based on the cause of the pathology and the symptoms manifested by the affected person.
Modifications to footwear and changes to certain activities may be made in order to improve symptoms, encourage movement and reduce inflammation in the heel area of the foot. In addition, physiotherapeutic treatment with stretching and strengthening exercises may be suggested to tone the tendon.
Among other therapies suitable for treating this condition is compression therapy. This is basically a therapeutic method consisting of the use of an elastic garment with the ability to normalise the blood flow in the affected body part, as well as minimise venous pressure, moderate the inflammatory process, improve mobility and speed up the patient's recovery phase around the Achilles tendon.
Compression ankle braces stand out by ensuring the following benefits:
- Instant pain relief.
- Minimise inflammatory phases, thanks to the support they provide.
- Improve blood circulation in order to encourage a more skilful recovery.
- They protect the ankle to limit the development of a more severe injury.
- Reduce muscle fatigue that may occur in the affected area.
- Offer greater stability and comfort to the ankle and its adjacent parts.
- They transmit heat and prevent cold in the region to generate a soothing effect.
- They help to restrict movement in the ankle in order to prevent further aggravation of the ailment.
What type of sports ankle braces are best for improving Achilles tendon tendonitis?
We suggest buying a sports compression ankle brace, which is a garment characterised by providing the benefits of compression therapy, without revealing adverse effects that negatively alter the recovery process. Considering that, this model of ankle brace is ideal to accelerate the improvement after suffering a tendonitis in the malleolus area or other similar pathologies, regardless of their level of severity.
Compression sports ankle supports are distinguished from the rest by their optimal elasticity and thus, at a therapeutic level, they provide the appropriate level of support to reinforce the ankle joint and improve its mobility both when carrying out common day-to-day activities and also during sports practices. They are compressive devices made of a quality, breathable material that helps to relieve the accumulated tension in the ankle and stabilise it by means of the appropriate amount of compression.
It is convenient to know the main advantages of compression ankle braces:
- They apply a compressive massage to relieve pain.
- They generate a noticeable improvement in blood circulation.
- They reduce muscle fatigue that may appear during the injury.
- They provide greater stability to the ankle joint.
- Ensure protection of the ankle and adjacent areas.
- Offer comfort and safety for daily activities and/or physical activities.
- They prevent the manifestation of any post-disease discomfort.
- They favour the absorption of moisture to prevent unpleasant odours.
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