Achilles tendinitis - The Achilles tendon runs down the back of the leg and connects to the calf muscle. It can become inflamed from overuse and inflexibility. Younger runners tend to strain the Achilles just above the heel, but as runners age, tendinitis usually occurs higher, where the Achilles connects to the calf muscle. An inflammed Achilles feels tender and stiff.
Causes - Running tends to tighten the calf muscle.

When the muscle becomes too tight, it doesn't allow for the normal biomechanics of running, and the Achilles tendon becomes strained and inflamed. Running steep hills or increasing your weekly mileage too quickly can lead to inflammation of the tendon. If you continue to run despite the pain, the inflammation can turn into partial tears of the tendon. Eventually, part of the tendon will die, and the weakened remaining tendon can easily rupture.

Treatment - Take an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium two or three times a day. Massage the Achilles with ice and take a few days off. In some cases, a quarter-inch to half-inch heel lift will alleviate the stress on the tendon. If you still have pain after a couple of weeks, you should see a sports-oriented physical therapist or podiatrist.

Prevention - Since tight calf muscles and a tight Achilles usually lead to Achilles tendinitis, stretching the calf and tendon are imperative. Contrary to conventional wisdom, it's best to stretch your tendon after you run, not before. That way, your tendon is fully warmed up and receptive to a slow, gradual stretch. Never stretch to the point of pain. Also, consider switching to a firmer, motion-control shoe to limit rearfoot motion and overpronation, and make certain that there isn't any pressure or rubbing from your shoes on the Achilles tendon. Eliminate or cut back on hill training.

Athlete’s foot is a common skin infection usually occurring between the toes or on the soles of the feet. The foot provides the best environment for this fungus because it is usually in a dark, damp area without much ventilation. Encyclopedia.com defines athlete’s foot or tinea pedis as; “superficial eruption of the skin caused by a fungus, chiefly Microsporum, Trichophyton, or Epidermophyton. Any area of the skin may be affected, including the scalp and nails, but the common site is the feet. That disorder is often called athlete’s foot in the belief that the infection is contracted during the use of communal shower facilities. Actually, fungi are present on the bodies of most persons, but some individuals are more resistant to fungi invasion than others. Moreover, a prolonged moist airless condition caused by excessive perspiration may subject a formerly resistant person to fungus invasion.

Ringworm infection causes dry, scaly patches or blisterlike elevations, usually with burning or itching. Griseofulvin, a modified form of penicillin, is effective against scalp infection, but ineffective against foot fungi. In mild cases of athlete’s foot, often the only treatment is to keep the feet scrupulously dry. In more consistent cases local antifungal ointments and soaks are recommended.” Fungi or bacteria are present on most people’s bodies throughout.

In order for bacteria to survive, grow and spread there are certain conditions that must be present. The area must be damp, dark, warm, and they must have something to feed on. Because of these conditions areas such as the feet and underarms are perfect sites for bacteria and fungus to grow. Sweat acts as the food which fungi eat and survive off of. The feet provide an easy target for athlete’s foot. Athlete’s foot may last for short or long periods of time and can be reoccurring in many cases.

after two weeks

If an apparent fungus condition does not respond to proper foot hygiene and self care, and there is no improvement within two weeks, consult your podiatrist. The podiatrist will determine if a fungus is the cause of the problem. If it is, a specific treatment plan, including the prescription of antifungal medication, applied topically or taken by mouth, will usually be suggested. Such a treatment appears to provide better resolution of the problem, when the patient observes the course of treatment prescribed by the podiatrist; if it's shortened, failure of the treatment is common.
If the infection is caused by bacteria, antibiotics, such as penicillin, that are effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria may be prescribed.

Jock Itch and Athletes foot

Athlete's foot causes scaling and itching of the affected skin. Blisters and cracked skin may also occur, leading to exposed raw tissue, pain, swelling, and inflammation. The infection can be spread to other areas of the body, such as the armpits, knees, elbows, and the groin, and usually is called by a different name once it spreads (such as jock itch or tinea cruris for an infection of the skin of the groin). This is something that I recently learned. I didn't know jock itch was the same thing as athlete's foot, just in another part of the body.

foot care instructions

1)Wash the feet carefully with soap and water.
2)Dry feet carefully, especially between toes.
3)Use a medicated foot powder.
4)Try using spray deodorant/antiperspirant once or twice a day on your feet.
5)Wear only synthetic socks, not cotton.
6)Wear a different pair of shoes everyday.
7)Change socks 2 times a day.

achilles tendonitis treatment

The achilles tendonitis treatment depends of the severity of the condition. The list below contains the various treatment options available. If you use the techniques on list below and the pain still persists or gets worse, you're advised to seek professional medical advice as soon as possible. Further achilles tendonitis treatment may be required.
Rest and apply R.I.C.E treatment (Rest, Isolation, compression, Elevation)
Put your lower leg on a soft surface (a pillow is ideal) when you're laying down
Wear a heal pad that slightly raises your heel
Take anti-inflammatory medication
In severe cases of achilles tendonitis the leg may be required to be put in a cast for several weeks. And in very extreme cases, surgery is required. These cases are usually rare and lenghty rehabilitation is required before full movement is allowed.

Tendonitis Prevention Techniques

Strengthen tendons with resistance training
It is possible to make your joints and tendons stronger with resistance training. Light weight training, about 3 times per week, can improve both your muscle and tendon strength considerably. You should train each muscle group with 1-2 exercises. Each exercise consists of 3 sets of 20 repetitions.
If you feel a pain in your tendons or joint, stop the activityIf you start to feel light pain around your tendons around joints it could be a sign that they're under too much pressure and tendonitis is going to develop. You could feel this pain when your tendons are under pressure. In most cases resting (even for short periods) will let your tendons heal very quickly.

Take frequent rest breaks
A good tendonitis prevention measure to take if you 're at risk of developing tendonitis in your workplace is to take frequent rest breaks. Rest breaks give your tendons a rest from repeated straining. Frequent rest breaks are recommended for computer operators, factory production line workers, manual laborers and any other job that requires repeated joint movements.

Brace the area for additional support
Braces are available for any area of the body where tendonitis occurs. Braces give the area extra support and warmth. Common types of braces include wrist, knee, elbow and ankle braces.

Choose footwear that best suits the activity
This tendonitis prevention technique only applies to tendonitis of the achilles, ankle and kness. It's very important to choose the correct footwear for the activitiy. For example, tennis shoes are great for tennis but do not have the support required for jogging. The same can be said for jogging shoes that would not be suitable for tennis.