What Is Achilles Tendonitis?

What Is Achilles Tendonitis? : Achilles tendonitis is an injury of the Achilles tendon. The tendon is a connective tissue that begins from the calf muscles and tapers at the heel bone. You can feel it behind and below the lower leg.

You use Achilles tendons to walk, jump, run, and tiptoe. Although this tendon is the strongest in the body and capable of withstanding forces exceeding 1,000 pounds, it does get injured. Tendonitis occurs when you overuse or suddenly strain the tendons or calf muscles.

You are more likely to injure your Achilles tendon when you:

  • Lack the Achilles tendon flexibility
  • Run on hills or climb stairs frequently
  • Jump excessively
  • Engage in strenuous workouts after a long hiatus
  • Increase your workout intensity too rapidly
  • Tighten your calf muscles too quickly and suddenly

Such activities cause inflammation in the Achilles tendon. Inflammation is the body’s way of responding through swelling, pain, and irritation. Getting tendinitis from time to time creates microscopic degeneration on your tendon, leading to chronic injury.

Types of Achilles Tendonitis

Frequent injury to the Achilles tendon can result in two types of tendonitis.

Non-insertional Achilles Tendinitis

Constant inflammation can cause microtears in the middle section of the Achilles tendon. The tears continue to grow until they eventually rip apart the tendon fibers. The resulting injury is known as non-insertional Achilles tendinitis. You will notice a bulge above the heel after the calf muscles. Non-insertional Achilles tendinitis often affects young people who are active like runners.

Insertional Achilles Tendinitis

Excessive contraction of the calve muscles strains the lower portion of the tendon next to the heel bone, creating microtears. With time, the tendon fibers can break off and harden, forming a protrusion on your heel.

Symptoms of Achilles Tendonitis

Common signs of injury in the Achilles tendon include:

  • Discomfort and rigidity along the Achilles tendon in the morning
  • Pain on the back of the heel that heightens with activity
  • Recurring pain along the tendon after running or walking
  • A protrusion on the back of your heel or the area slightly above the heel
  • Pain in the back of the heel when you wear shoes

Treating Achilles Tendonitis

Treatment begins with a doctor’s examination. The doctor looks for:

  • Swelling in the back of your heel
  • Bone spurs at the end of the tendon on the heel.
  • Discomfort in the middle section of the tendon
  • Pain on the heel when contracting the calf
  • Ankle movement restriction and an inability to point your leg toes down

The doctor then performs an X-ray, ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), or a Computed Tomography (CT) scan to establish the injury is tendinitis and not a tendon rupture.

After the physician confirms you have Achilles tendonitis, treatment choices include:

  • Medication – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs) to control inflammation and enable you to tolerate physical therapy
  • Dressing – to limit tendon movement.
  • Orthotics – contrivances put on your shoes to alleviate discomfort and pressure from a broken or calcified tendon. Supportive shoes with an opening on the heel are also essential for preventing pain and irritation.
  • Rest – to limit the use of the tendon until it heals
  • Physical therapy – to strengthen weak muscles

FAQs

What Steps Can I Take to Relieve the Pain From Achilles Tendonitis?

Rest is the first step to reducing discomfort. If you are a high-exercise professional, switch to activities that require minimal leg work. Low-impact activities include biking, swimming, and elliptical exercises.

Your doctor may also give you an ankle strap or boot immobilization to limit your movement. You can also place ice on the painful part of the tendon. Place the ice for up to 20 minutes at a time. Remove the ice if the skin becomes numb.

What Happens During an Achilles Tendonitis Physical Therapy?

Your physical therapist helps you perform exercises and stretches to strengthen your weak muscles and regain flexibility in your tendons.

Some of the exercises include:

  • A calf stretch – targets your calf muscles and heel cord. Lean on a wall with your arms stretched toward the wall. Place one leg forward with the knee bent and heels on the ground. Push your hips toward the wall rhythmically for 10 seconds and take a break. Repeat the process 20 times.
  • Eccentric strengthening – rehabilitates weak calf muscles and should be done with a physical therapist because of the possibility of damaging your Achilles tendon. The activities include the bilateral heel drop and single heel drop.

What Does the Painless Bump on My Achilles Tendon Mean?

A painless bump occurs when constant inflammation, trauma, and poor blood supply create microtears on the Achilles tendon’s fibers. The broken fibers interfere with collagen formation. Calcium from the heel bone also mixes with the torn fibers forming a hard and painless protrusion called tendinosis.

 

 

 

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What Is Achilles Tendonitis?

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