Achilles Tendonitis

What is Achilles Tendonitis?

Achilles Tendonitis is Latin for ‘inflammation of the Achilles Tendon’. The Achilles Tendons are the longest tendons in the body, connecting the calf muscles to the heel bone. When the calf muscles contract, they pull on the Achilles Tendon, causing the foot to point down and helping you rise on your toes. Hence, the Achilles plays an important role in walking and running.

Achilles Pain occurs just above the back of the heel and often you will also experience tightness in the calf muscles. The Achilles Tendon may be noticeably thickened and tender to the touch. Pain is present with walking and running, especially when pushing off on the toes.

What causes it?

Achilles Tendonitis pain can develop gradually without any history of injury or trauma. The pain can be a burning pain, a shooting pain, or even an extremely piercing pain. Achilles Tendonitis should not be left untreated because there’s a chance the tendon will become weak and ruptured. Achilles pain can be aggravated by activities that repeatedly put stress on the tendon, causing irritation and inflammation.

Achilles pain is a common problem, and often experienced by athletes, particularly distance runners. Achilles Tendonitis is a difficult injury to treat in athletes due to their high level of activity and reluctance to stop or slow down their training.

People who suffer from Achilles Tendonitis often notice that their first steps out of bed in the morning are very painful. Or pain after taking your first steps after long periods of sitting. The pain often lessens with activity.

Persistent strain on the Achilles Tendons causes irritation and inflammation. In severe cases this strain may even cause the tendon to rupture! Chronic overuse (particularly in runners) may contribute to changes in the Achilles tendon as well, leading to degeneration and thickening of the tendon. Tight calf muscles also contribute to Achilles Tendonitis (or Tendinopathy). As we age, our tendons will degenerate. Degeneration means that wear and tear occurs in the tendon over time, leading to weakness in the fibres of the tendon. There are several factors that can cause Achilles Tendonitis. The most common cause is over-pronation. Over-pronation occurs in the walking process, when the arch collapses upon weight bearing, adding stress on the achilles tendon.

How can we help?

Orthotics help prevent over-pronation. By wearing orthotics the strain on the Achilles will be greatly reduced, giving the tendons a chance to heal. Plus, the orthotic will prevent the situation from worsening, thereby reducing the risk of a tendon rupture.