Achilles tendinitis is the injury of the Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon is a tough band of fibrous tissue that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. It is included under musculoskeletal diseases. In musculoskeletal diseases, pain is associated with bone, muscle, nerves, tendons and ligaments.
- SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- CAUSES OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- DIAGNOSIS OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- TREATMENTS FOR ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- PROGNOSIS OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- COMPLICATIONS OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- ACHILLES TENDINITIS AND AYURVEDA
- NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- AYURVEDIC LOCAL TREATMENT FOR ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- AYURVEDIC SODHANA TREATMENT FOR ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- HOME REMEDIES FOR ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- YOGA FOR ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- RESEARCH PAPERS OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- Pain varies from a dull constant ache to a sudden sharp feeling.
- Pain manifested in and around the foot.
- Pain aggravated during walking.
- Tenderness on the heel
CAUSES OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- Mechanical causes
- Inflammatory
- Injuries
- Straining the calf muscles during repeated exercise
- Continuous walking for long-distance
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
The repetitive action of the calf muscle tendon results in tears and injuries, which leads to localised inflammation. The tendon becomes thickened and loses elasticity leads to stiffness. Stimulation of specialized pain-sensitive nerve fibres (nociceptors) that innervate the bone tissue and tendon leads to pain in the heel.
DIAGNOSIS OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- EXAMINATIONS
- Inspection – in and around the heels
- Palpation
- Movements – Flexion, Extension of ankle joint
- INVESTIGATIONS
- X – rays
- MRI
- CT Scan
- Laboratory tests – to find out the underlying pathology
TREATMENTS FOR ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- Medications – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, Analgesics
- Treatment of underlying pathology
- Physiotherapy and rehabilitation
- In few cases may require surgery
PROGNOSIS OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- Prognosis is based on the degree of the inflammation, duration and condition of the patient
COMPLICATIONS OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- Rupture of Achilles tendon
ACHILLES TENDINITIS AND AYURVEDA
- In Ayurveda, Achilles tendinitis (pada sula) or vatakandaka falls under Vatavyadhi or a Vata dosha imbalance disorder.
- Vata vyadhi can be correlated to neurological or neuromuscular disorders. The causes and pathogenesis of diseases caused by vitiation of Vata dosha, in general, are the exclusive cause and pathogenesis ofpain, numbness, weakness.
- Vata dosha and mamsa dhatu are involved.
NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- Excess consumption of ununctuous, acrid, cold food
- Excessive physical exercise.
- Suppression of natural urges.
- Walking for long-distance
- Trauma
- Injuries
PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- Dull intermittent pain in the heels
SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- Vata, pitta and kapha dosha move through all channels of circulation. Due to the subtle nature of vata it impels the remaining two doshas.
- The aggravated vata having provoked these two doshas, exacerbated and fills up the empty channels and moves greatly inside them or by getting enveloped by the other doshas.
- The aggravated vata resides in the snayu (tendon) of the heel and produces different kinds of aches and pains.
LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- Toda – aching pain
- Ruk – Pain on the heels
- Pain aggravates on walking
- Sopha – oedema
- Sada – weakness
AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- Pain associated with traumatic injuries is difficult to cure – krichra sadhya
CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR ACHILLES TENDINITIS
Ayurvedic local treatment for Achilles tendinitis
- Pain-relieving lepa application
- Pada Abhyanga – oil massaging on the foot
- Agnikarma
- Bandhana (bandaging)
AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- Balarishtam
- Maharasnadi kashayam
- Dhanwantharam ghritam
- Rasna panchakam kashayam
- Rasnasaptakam kashayam
- Rasaraj ras
- Laksha guggulu
- Trayodasanga guggulu
- Mahayogaraja guggulu
AYURVEDIC SODHANA TREATMENT FOR ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- VASTHI- Erandamooladi yapana vasthi
- SNEHAVIRECHANAM-Eranda tailam
- NASYA-Ksheerabala
COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR ACHILLES TENDINITIS
Internal administration
- Dasamoolarishtam
- Rasnerandadi kashayam
- Rasna panchakam kashayam
- Rasna saptakam kashayam
- Rasaraj ras
- Laksha guggulu
- Trayodasanga guggulu
- Mahayogaraja guggulu
- Dhanwantharam ghrita
External application
- Snehadhara – with balaswagandha tailam and ksheerabala tailam
- Shashtika Sali panda sweda
HOME REMEDIES FOR ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- Proper rest
- Heat application on the affected area by a towel dipped with hot water
- Massage the painful area for 15 minutes ( NOT too much pressure )
- Drinking plenty of fluids
- Bathing in warm water
- Foot massaging
DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- Avoid food items that produce vata dosha imbalance like cold and dry food, hard to digest. Because vata imbalance aggravates the symptoms.
- Consume easily digestible food items, cow’s milk
- Avoid heavy exercises which further aggravate the conditions.
- Oil massage on the affected part is advised. This alleviates vata dosha.
- Take proper rest.
YOGA FOR ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- Nadi Shuddi Pranayam – calms the mind and gets relief from aches and pains
The patient needs to be seated in a meditative posture with the head and spine erect, with the body relaxed. The patient has to close his one nostril (e.g. left nostril if using the right hand and vice versa) with the thumb and exhale completely through the other nostril. Again, he will have to breathe in deeply through the other nostril while the opposite nostril is still closed with the thumb.
Savasana – relaxes body and mind
RESEARCH PAPERS OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF ACHILLES TENDINITIS
- Viddhagni karma in achilles tendinitis – a case study
http://www.iamj.in/posts/2020/images/upload/3144_3147.pdf
- Ayurvedic management of vatakandaka (plantar fasciitis)
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/266974943.pdf
3. A Clinical Study of Efficacy of Agnikarm: An Ancient Treatment Method in the Management of Heel Pain