Achilles tendonitis tends to happen when you increase your activity level too quickly or intensely, have flat feet that excessively overpronate, wear ill-fitting shoes during activity, and having tight calf muscles. To prevent this injury, make sure you ease into exercise if you are just starting out. Always warm up properly, and if you are a runner, limit hill running which puts excessive stress on the Achilles. Wear well-fitting shoes with good cushioning and a firm arch support. Stretch your Achilles tendon and calf muscles every day so they stay flexible, and focus on strengthening them to help reduce the tension on your heel. Tendonitis stems from repeated stress, so mix up your exercise routine to include some low-impact days, or try swimming and cycling instead.

Finally, let us know right away if you have returning pain in your Achilles. We can put a stop to the progression of the injury and make sure you avoid even worse problems like a torn tendon. Contact Mark Gasparini, D.P.M in Bethpage, NY with any questions by calling (516) 804-9038.