Achilles Tendinitis

A tendinitis can be described as an inflammation of the tendon, caused by repetitive stress or overuse.  The Achilles tendon is located at the back of the lower leg and is an extension of the calf muscle (gastrocnemius).  It attaches at the heel of the foot.

Causes and Symptoms

In some cases, Achilles Tendinitis can be caused by physical activity without a proper warm up or trauma, such as falling, to cause an overstressing of the muscle and tendon.  Other causes include repetitive overuse syndrome, such as a job that required frequent heel lifting.  Biomechanical causes such as pronation (or fallen arches) will cause the heel (calcaneus) to lean slightly, putting the undue stress on the Achilles tendon and the calf muscles.

Most pain can be felt at the back of the heel or the point at which the calf muscle becomes a tendon three quarters of the distance down from the knee.  Discomfort can be felt especially when jumping or when lifting the heel off the ground.  Swelling and redness can often be seen at the back of the heel and touching the area would cause a tender sensation.  In extreme cases, the tendon can become torn or rupture entirely which would cause bruising or an inability to put pressure on the foot.

Treatment

Proper footwear with a strong and secure counter (the heel circumference) may help to encourage heeling of the tendon.

A tendinitis will occasionally resolve on it’s own, with rest, ice, and gentle stretching.  If symptoms persist for more than 2 weeks, consult your physician.  Your physician may suggest physiotherapy and custom orthotics.  Physiotherapy can suggest appropriate exercises and modalities to aid in the healing process.  Custom orthotics can be very successful in treating the problem, as the original cause may be due to an improper alignment of the foot and heel.  Re-aligning the foot to a neutral position may provide an optimal, biomechanically sound environment for healing to occur.