Everyday athletes, especially runners, are well versed in foot and ankle pain. One of the main culprits is tendonitis, specifically extensor tendonitis. This type of inflammation can be treated with all kinds of home remedies, but should compression socks be one of them? Let’s take a look at how this ailment develops and the treatment benefits a sock can offer.
What Is Extensor Tendonitis?
Most foot or ankle pain can be traced back to your tendons, cord-like structures that anchor your muscles to the bone. The extensor tendons are what allow you to move your toes by connecting the toe bones to the leg muscles that cross over the ankle joint. When these tendons become overworked, painful inflammation is the body’s way of telling you to slow down.
This type of tendonitis is typically caused by overuse, whether from exercise or a job that requires being on your feet all day. This can overstretch the tendon and even create small tears. Ill-fitting or too-tight shoes are another cause because they can push too hard on the extensor tendon. Athletes also need to be aware of improper form or overly aggressive training, as both can lead to tendonitis.
Even if you don’t regularly exercise, you may still experience extensor tendonitis if you have flat feet or high arches. Muscular imbalances such as these can put stress on tendons just from everyday activity.
Side Effects
Extensor tendonitis can come and go, whether you’re exercising or not, as can the side effects. Be on the lookout for the following symptoms:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Tender to the touch
- Stiffness
The most common remedy when these symptoms occur is an oldie but goodie: R.I.C.E.
- Rest: Limit activity as much as possible to give the tendon time to recover.
- Ice: Apply a cold compress in 20-minute increments to help reduce inflammation. Taking anti-inflammatory medication can also help with this.
- Compression: This can be a medical wrap or other ankle support – like a compression sock! More on this in a moment.
- Elevation: Raise your foot and prop it on a pillow to keep it at heart level. Aim to do this for two to three hours a day to alleviate pain and swelling.
How Compression Socks Fight Back
As you can see, compression socks are absolutely a helpful tool against extensor tendonitis. This makes sense because they were initially created as a medical garment to address leg pain, swelling, and poor circulation. As the name suggests, the fabric provides gentle pressure to the legs and ankles. It’s this pressure that helps arteries relax and blood flow more freely. This, in turn, promotes proper circulation back up to the heart, reducing painful swelling in foot injuries.
Feetures’ High Knee Compression Socks are fully graduated, meaning they start out with a greater amount of compression at the ankle and gradually get looser up the calf. This strategic knit helps reduce strain on the tendon while moving blood out of the lower limb to treat swelling. You can wear these socks after your run as a treatment but also during activity to help prevent tendonitis in the first place.
It’s also important to do foot and ankle stretches before exercise and avoid worn-out shoes. We know runners, in particular, are often driven to keep moving through pain, but it’s critical that you give your tendonitis time to heal and then return to activity gradually.
Treatment and Prevention in One Sock
Whether you’re looking to treat or prevent extensor tendonitis, we suggest putting a pair of compression socks in your first-aid arsenal. Feetures’ specialized compression socks relieve painful symptoms so you can get back to your favorite activity sooner. Still unsure? Take advantage of our lifetime guarantee and try a pair for yourself risk-free!
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