Achilles Heel Tendonitis

Tissue bands connecting muscles to bones are called tendons, and the largest tendon in the body called Achilles tendon. Achilles tendon, is also referred to as the 'heel cord', as it connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. It facilitates the walking function by supporting the entire body weight and raising the heel off the ground. The inflammation of this Achilles tendon is termed as Achilles tendonitis. Achilles heel tendonitis is a condition featuring the inflammation and irritation of the Achilles tendon, and is a injury commonly observed in athletes. Overuse of the tendon results in pain, swelling and pain while walking. Moreover, Achilles tendonitis can spearhead small tears within the tendon, making it prone to rupture. The condition is also referred to as Achilles tendinopathy. Inflammation is no longer considered as the underlying cause, but is known to be degeneration of tissue with normal fiber structure loss. This condition can be acute or chronic. This means it can occur over a period of days, after a rigorous training routine. It may be chronic, that is occurring after a longer period of time. Healing of the tendon after injury or rupture is very slow due to poor blood supply in that region.

Causes and Symptoms of Achilles Heel Tendonitis

Causes: Sudden rise in frequency of repetitive activities involving this tendon, causes excess stress and pressure in a short period of time. Overuse of the tendon, weak calf muscles, increased activity, etc. cause injury to the Achilles tendon. However, the main factor contributing to this condition is hyperpronation. Hyperpronation is nothing but the excess rolling of the foot, which causes extra strain on the tendon. People hyperpronating have their arches drop from the sitting position or weight bearing position to standing or weight bearing position. What happens when the arches drop is that the ankles roll in, thereby causing the heels to lean in. This leaning in of the heels results in increased stress on the inner attachment of the tendon. The increased tension results in Achilles tendon pain.

Besides this factor, the other Achilles tendon pain causes are lack of flexibility, decreased range of motion at the ankle joint (especially, caused by tight calf muscles) and less recovery time between rigorous activities. Oft, long distance runners are observed to develop Achilles tendonitis symptoms after increasing the amount of hill training or their mileage. Running uphill causes the tendon to be stretched more than normal in every stride. Excess of running uphill causes loads of stress on the tendon, and it will fatigue sooner than usual. Moreover, recent changes in footwear, change in training schedules or change in training surface can also result in this condition. Constant use of high heels causes the tendons to shorten. Thus, while exercising in flat running shoes, the tendon stretches beyond the normal range, causing strain on the tendon. Middle-aged athletes, due to their age progression, have tendons that are less flexible and more prone to injury.

Symptoms: Achilles heel tendonitis may be acute or chronic. Depending on the type, the symptoms are segregated. The prime complaint regarding this condition is pain over the back of the heel. This is because that is the point where the tendon inserts on the heel bone. In case of acute tendonitis, gradual pain is felt for a number of days. At the onset of exercise, pain is experienced which eases with rest. Tenderness is also observed. If acute tendonitis condition is not treated it may lead to chronic tendonitis, which is a difficult condition to treat. In the chronic type, people experience gradual onset of pain over a period of weeks or even months. Pain while walking up and down stairs, swelling, redness of skin, stiffness, etc. is experienced. Sometimes, when the ankle is moved using the fingers, a creaking can be felt.

Prevention of Achilles heel tendonitis is better than treating it. One can prevent injury to the Achilles tendon by maintaining the flexibility in the ankle joint. Thus, stretching the tendon, before Achilles tendonitis exercises will help. As far as treatment of this condition is concerned, depending on the injury onset, the duration of the injury and degree of damage, the condition can be treated. In the initial stages, resting the painful foot will cause subsidization of the swelling. Moreover, immobilization with the help of a cast will reduce the stress on the tendon, giving it an opportunity to heal. The inflamed area can also be brought in contact with ice packs to reduce the swelling. Physical therapy and oral medications are also used to treat tendonitis and give relief from heel pain, and when all these steps fail, surgery is required to repair the damage caused to the tendon.