Achilles Tendonitis:
What is it?
Achilles tendonitis is caused by overuse or sudden stresses to your Achilles tendon. Inflammation occurs to the tendon causing pain. The Achilles tendon runs from the bottom of the calf muscle to the heel. The tendon is surrounded in a protective sheath with a layer of fat between the sheath and the tendon. Scars form between the sheath and the tendon when the tendon is injured. Each movement of the tendon pulls the sheath, warming it up and making it softer, which means the pain is reduced with increase exercise. A program of rest and stretches can work to relieve and eliminate pain.
Symptoms
* Pain on the tendon during exercise.
* Swelling over the Achilles tendon.
* Redness over the skin.
* You can sometimes feel a creaking when you press your
fingers into the tendon and move the foot.
* Pain caused by movement of the joint
and localized in the heel of the foot
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Ankle Sprain:
What is it?
A sprain is the most common type of injury to the ankle. A sprain is stretching and tearing of ligaments. A ligament is fibrous bands connecting adjacent bones to a joint. There are many ligaments around the ankle and these can become damaged when the ankle is forced into an awkward position. Resting can offer some relief from your pain. Applying ice to your foot is a good way to reduce inflammation and pain.
Your foot is built to withstand motion and pressure. Bones provide the framework. Soft tissue, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, keep the bones stable and control movement. Bones and nerves in the leg connect the foot to the spine. Too many hours on your feet, sudden movements, or misaligned joints can lead to soft tissue and other problems.
Symptoms
* Swelling
* You will not be able to put any weight on your foot.
* Bruising
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Calf Strain:
What is it?
A sharp pain in the calf muscle followed by difficulty using it is probably a calf strain. The most common place for this injury is in the muscle, about half way between the knee and the heel.
Symptoms
* A sudden pain at the back of the leg.
* If you have trouble contracting the muscle
or standing on your tiptoe.
* Pain, swelling, or bruising in the calf muscle.
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Hamstring Strain:
What is it?
A hamstring strain or a pulled hamstring is a tear in one of the hamstrings muscles. It often results from an overload of the muscles or trying to move the muscles too fast. If you have taken an impact in the back of the leg it must be treated as a contusion. Improper stretching and overuse can result in a hamstring strain. Chronic injuries arise from not properly rehabilitating acute hamstring injuries, but may also occur from small amounts of repeated trauma over a period of time. Poor flexibility of the hamstring increases the likelihood of small tears, which causes the muscle to shorten and get tighter.
Symptoms
* A sudden sharp pain at the back of the leg.
* Muscles going into spasm.
* Swelling and bruising.
* If the rupture is very bad you can feel a gap
in the muscle.
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Hip Flexor Pain:
What is it?
The hip flexors are a group of muscles that move the hip forward when running and walking. A great deal of stress is applied to this muscle group when sprinting and kicking. A strain can vary anywhere from stretching to a complete tear of the muscle tissue. This injury occurs in bicyclists, athletes who jump or run with high knee kicks, athletes like soccer players who do forceful kicking activities, and people who practice the martial arts.
Symptoms
* Pain in the upper groin region where the the
high meets the pelvis.
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Iliotibial Band Syndrome:
What is it?
Iliotibial band syndrome is also known as runner's knee. The iliotibial band runs down the outside of the thigh. When it becomes tight the tendon starts to rub on the bone at the knee. Eventually it will become inflamed and cause pain when you run. Resting will decrease the pain, but when you run again the pain will return.
Symptoms
* Swelling
* Knee gives out
* Pain when you walk and/or run.
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Patellar Tendonitis:
What is it?
Patellar tendonitis (also called "jumper's knee") occurs when the quadriceps muscles are overused or inflexible. When quadriceps are overused, the patellar tendon has to absorb more of the shock created by movement. If the quadriceps are inflexible, the patellar tendon has to withstand more friction during movement. In either case, the tendon may become irritated or damaged. This can result in pain during activity--and pain may continue even when you're resting.
Symptoms
* Pain in your knee
* Soreness
* Swelling
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Plantar Fasciitis:
What is it?
Plantar fasciitis is when the plantar fascia ligament is strained causing pain at the bottom of your foot. The plantar fascia is a ligament-like band running from your heel to the ball of your foot. This band pulls on the heel bone, raising the arch of your foot as it pushes off the round. If your foot moves incorrectly, the plantar fascia may become strained. The fascia may swell and its tiny fibers may begin to fray, causing plantar fasciits.
Symptoms
* The bottom of your foot may hurt when you stand.
Pain usually occurs on the inside of the foot,
near the spot where the heal and arch meet.
* Pain may lessen after a few steps, but it comes
back after rest or with prolonged movement.
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Shin Splints:
What is it?
Shins splints is commonly seen as an overuse injury in runners. Pain is felt along the shin and develops gradually over a period of weeks to months. However, it may occur after a single excessive bout of exercise. Training errors and abnormal biomechanics can cause shin splints. Too much exercise without the proper amount of rest is another cause for the injury. A sudden increase in training will overload your ability to heal during rest and injury may result.
Symptoms
* Pain will occur when exercising starts and decrease
when exercise continues. It will be worse when
you stop or in the morning.
