Worried about your Achilles tendon? Here’s what you need to know.

One of the most dramatic and painful injuries that someone can go through is an Achilles tendon injury. It can put an athlete (or those not so athletic, for that matter) off his feet for days, weeks, or even longer. Since they are located near the ankle and bear weight, there is very little activity someone can get away with after this type of injury.

Symptoms of Achilles tendon injury:

• Swelling: The area surrounding the ankle fills with fluid to help protect the injury. Your body may know it’s injured before you do.
• Pain: Severe pain is often associated with Achilles injuries, but mild pain can also tip you off to problems. Just because it doesn’t always hurt, doesn’t always mean it’s not injured.
• Motion: Your body doesn’t want to keep working through a severe injury and often will take prevention initiative.
• Arrow through the ankle: The original symptom of an Achilles tendon injury, although the least common.

These symptoms aren’t meant to be a diagnosis, but if they are consistent and persistent, there may be a more severe injury than just a rolled ankle or a sore foot and should be checked out.

Prevention

While an Achilles tendon injury may happen abruptly during physical activity, this is not the only way someone can injure his or her Achilles. This means that there are measures one can take to protect himself from an injury, besides not playing professional football.

• Stretching: For physically active people, this is kind of a given. But it is also a great idea for everyone because the tendon moves as your body moves, and can only move so far.
• Footwear: Proper cushioning can be a lifesaver. Flexibility allows your feet to move naturally and should be considered in footwear. Arch support keeps your foot shaped the way it needs to be shaped.
• Attention: Take note of areas of soreness up and down the tendon, and keep track of pain over time.

Contact a Brooklyn foot doctor with any questions regarding Achilles tendon injuries and injury prevention. Dr. Michael Perlstein can answer questions and plan an injury recovery process for tendon injuries. Order the book How to Keep Your Feet Healthy and Feel Good on their website.



Dr. Michael Perlstein's podiatry office is located at 4414 14th Avenue in Brooklyn, New York. He serves patients throughout the greater New York City area, including those residing in Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, the Bronx, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Dr. Perlstein's office is open Monday through Friday as well as on Sunday.