If you’ve ever had aches or pains in your ankles, feet, or feet, you’ve probably heard the saying that Achilles tendonosis is the most common problem plaguing people with these ailments.
If you’re like me, you may have felt a sense of déjà vu as the symptoms gradually improved.
But new research is proving otherwise.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have found that people who have had Achilles tendon pain or inflammation for years can actually see the benefits of treating these ailments with a combination of treatments.
They have discovered a way to help people with aches, pains, and swelling, including chronic Achilles tendon inflammation.
This is an interactive infographic to help explain the findings of a study published in the journal PLoS ONE.
“Achilles tendons are extremely elastic,” says researcher Matthew D. Leinberger, PhD, who conducted the research as part of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the U-M School of Medicine.
“If you pull on them and they tear, the elasticity is broken, and the muscle tissue is stretched.”
In a study with a group of patients with moderate to severe Achilles tendon injuries, the researchers found that they could reduce symptoms of these injuries with a mixture of treatments including a cortisone injection, a topical steroid, or a combination treatment.
The treatment was not as effective for patients with mild to moderate tendonitis, however.
The study authors said they believe this may be because the treatment was applied to the tendon area more than the muscles, where it would be less effective.
“The Achilles tendons of people with moderate or severe tendonitis are more likely to be exposed to high-level, high-pressure environments, and they are more susceptible to the inflammatory cascade that can lead to injury and tissue damage,” says Dr. Leineberger.
Researchers say they found that the combination of topical steroids and a corticosteroid injection could be effective for treating Achilles tendon infections.
“Acne scar, Achilles tendon, Achilles inflammation are all the same, they’re all the result of inflammation,” Dr. Daines says.
“So if you can reduce inflammation, you can treat them.”
According to Dr. Deen, this type of treatment is very important for people with chronic Achilles tendinitis and will likely become more common as more people are able to find their own treatments.
“As we get older, we will see more and more people get these chronic injuries,” he says.
For people who are considering treatment, the most important thing to remember is that the treatments will not eliminate the symptoms, and you should seek treatment at your doctor’s discretion.
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