Most Achilles tendon injuries occur during
sports and can be prevented. If you had an Achilles tendon problem in the past,
it is especially important to try to prevent another injury by:
- Warming up and stretching. Before any sport or
intense activity, gradually warm up your body by doing 5 to 10 minutes of
walking or biking and then do stretching exercises.
Calf stretches
will stretch and strengthen the Achilles tendon and calf
muscles. More
general stretches
target other muscles, such as the hamstrings and
groin. - Cooling down and doing more stretching. After intense
activity, gradually cool down with about 5 minutes of easy jogging, walking, or
biking, and 5 minutes of stretches.
- Avoiding any sport or intense
activity that you are not in condition to do.
- Wearing shoes that
cushion your heel during sports or any strenuous activity.
- Wearing
heel pads or other
orthotics that are designed to reduce stress on the
Achilles tendon.
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