At Dr. Jill’s Foot Pads, we know that when Spring arrives many people find new motivation to get outside and exercise. This is particularly true if you live in a part of the country where cold weather and icy, slippery conditions have kept you confined to home for the winter months. While increasing physical activity is a good thing, it can be harmful to your lower extremities if you don’t undertake a new exercise regimen properly. One area that Podiatrists frequently treat for injuries in relation to sports and fitness activities is the Achilles tendon.

Your Achilles tendon is a long, strong band of tissue that runs along the back of your lower leg, connecting the calf muscle to the heel bone. It is also known as the heel cord. It helps raise your heel off the ground. A sudden increase in physical activity, however, can result in inflammation and injury to the Achilles tendon. Too much stress applied too quickly to the tendon results in micro tears and pain. In addition, patients with excessive pronation or flat feet are at a higher risk for Achilles issues.

Tips to Alleviating Achilles Pain

We offer several products that can help with Achilles problems. Our Achilles Heel Sleeve is designed to relieve sore, fatigued or injured Achilles tendons. Soft gel pads protect the Achilles tendon area at the back of the heel from friction while simultaneously compressing and reducing pressure around sore areas. Our Adjustable Heel Lifts can also help. These consist of three layers of resilient rubber that are tapered for comfort. One or two layers can be peeled off to adjust to perfect heel height. If flat feet are the source of your Achilles discomfort you may want to try our Arch Steppers. Other ways to decrease the likelihood of Achilles problems include:

• Starting up a new workout routine slowly and gradually increasing intensity and duration
• Working out consistently–“weekend warriors” who are inactive Monday to Friday tend to have a higher risk for Achilles injuries
• Always warm up properly before exercise and be sure to stretch your calf muscles

We have many products that can help you exercise safely and effectively. You can see all of our products on our online catalog. All items are easily ordered online, and we offer free shipping on orders of $25 or more. Contact us by calling: (866) FOOT-PAD (366-8723).