Tracking Tendinitis

Posted on July 23, 2012 by LBrown, DPM

The Achilles tendon is especially prone to injury among athletes, and therefore receives the most attention. But the Achilles is not the only tendon in the foot, nor is it the only one to cause problems.

Tendons connect muscles to bone. When a muscle contracts, the tendon pulling on the bone creates movement. A protective sheath normally allows the tendon to glide smoothly, but any damage to the tissue may cause it to “stick” or adhere to other structures, resulting in painful and limited mobility. Tendons heal slowly, often with residual scar tissue, because of the amount of blood supply they receive. The scarring may interfere with the tendon’s smooth movement within the sheath, leading to repetitive cycle of inflammation and injury. Skiers and skaters who wear their boots tightly laced often suffer from recurrent episodes of compression tendinitis over the top of the ankle.

Prevention is the best solution. Much tendinitis can be avoided by proper warm-ups and stretching exercise and with the use of appropriate foot gear.

To make an appointment with podiatrist Dr. Brown, DPM please contact the Ryan Foot and Ankle Clinic today at 586-758-5770.