Achilles tendonitis is an overuse injury to the Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon connects the heel bone to the calf and upper leg. It is the largest and strongest tendon in the entire human body, and used to propel the body forward. Because this part of the leg has a poor blood supply, it is susceptible to injury and unable to heal or repair itself.

There are two types of Achilles tendonitis:

• Insertional Achilles tendonitis occurs in the lower part of the tendon, where it connects to the heel bone, also called the calcaneus.
• Non-insertional Achilles tendonitis occurs in the upper part of the tendon.

If the symptoms of Achilles tendonitis are lasting more than a couple of days or impacting your daily activities, our foot and ankle specialists at Seaview Orthopaedics offer high-quality care to ease your pain and get you back in action.

Pain is the number one symptom of Achilles tendonitis. For non-insertional tendonitis, this pain often presents with activities like running and jumping. Patients with insertional achilles tendonitis typically complain of pain while wearing shoes, as the backs of the shoes press against the inflamed tendon.

Achilles tendonitis is primarily an overuse injury. It is frequently caused by repetitive activities such as running. Inconsistent activity, such as playing basketball on the weekends while remaining sedentary during the week, can also increase your risk.

Other causes of Achilles tendonitis are:

• Tightness in the tendon, which creates more pull on the heel bone and causes a spur to form.
• Haglund’s deformity, which causes a growth to form on the back of the heel bone. Often hereditary, this disorder can cause rubbing, irritation, and even tearing of the Achilles tendon.

Treatment for Achilles tendonitis is often a phased approach that escalates as necessary based on the severity of the condition.

Inflammation management is the first step in treating Achilles tendonitis. This often introduces oral or topical anti-inflammatory medications, and primarily focuses on RICE, a general treatment of muscle and joint inflammation.

RICE is a four-part approach incorporating:

• Rest
• Ice
• Compression
• Elevation

If efforts to treat the inflammation do not alleviate symptoms within a couple of days, more aggressive treatment may be needed. Treatment for severe cases of Achilles tendonitis may involve a multifaceted approach:

• Bracing the foot and ankle to stabilize the tendon
• Switching to appropriate footwear that does not press on the Achilles tendon
• Physical therapy to safely stretch and condition the tendon

In some cases, an MRI or other imaging may be required. 

Avoiding overuse of the legs is one of the best ways to prevent Achilles tendonitis. This includes choosing moderate exercise regimens over extreme, slowly increasing activity levels, and engaging in activity consistently throughout the week. A healthy stretching program to make sure all your muscles are limber is especially helpful in preventing injury to the Achilles. 

Wearing supportive footwear that doesn’t press on the back of the leg is also important to help to prevent insertional Achilles tendonitis. 

If you think you have achilles tendonitis, you should see your doctor. This is especially true if you’re struggling to wear shoes comfortably. Left untreated, Achilles tendonitis can worsen or create additional injuries, even resulting in the rupture of the tendon.

Schedule an Appointment with our Seaview Orthopaedics Foot & Ankle Specialists in NJ.