Health Education on the Internet Welcome Healthcare Professional/Patient Achilles Tendon Injury
What is an Achilles tendon injury?
What is an Achilles tendon injury?
The Achilles tendon is a band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the calf muscle of the leg. Injury to the tendon may cause it to become inflamed or torn.
Achilles tendonitis is the term used when the tendon is inflamed. The inflammation causes pain at the back of your leg near the heel. A tear of the tendon is called a rupture. It also causes pain near your heel.
Achilles tendonitis can be caused by:
- overuse of the Achilles tendon
- tight calf muscles
- tight Achilles tendons
- lots of uphill running
- increasing the amount or intensity of sports training, sometimes along with switching to racing flats, which are racing shoes with less heel lift
- over-pronation, a problem where your feet roll inward and flatten out more than normal when you walk or run
- wearing high heels at work and then switching to lower- heeled shoes for exercise.
An Achilles tendon may tear during sudden activity. For example the tendon might tear when you jump or start sprinting.
Achilles tendonitis causes pain and may cause swelling over the Achilles tendon. The tendon is tender and may be swollen. You will have pain when you rise up on your toes and pain when you stretch the tendon. The range of motion of your ankle may be limited.
When the tendon tears or ruptures, you may feel a pop. If there is a complete tear, you will be unable to lift your heel off the ground or point your toes.
Your health care provider will examine your leg, looking for tenderness and swelling. Your provider will watch your feet when you walk or run to see if you over-pronate.
- Put ice packs on the Achilles tendon for 20 to 30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours for the first 2 or 3 days or until the pain goes away.
- Raise your lower leg on a pillow when you are lying down.
- Take anti-inflammatory medication as prescribed by your health care provider.
- If your health care provider prescribes a heel lift insert for your shoe, wear it at least until your tendon heals and possibly longer. The lift prevents extra stretching of your Achilles tendon.
- While you are recovering from your injury, change your sport or activity to one that does not make your condition worse. For example, you may need to swim instead of run.
- Do any exercises your health care provider gives you to stretch and strengthen your Achilles tendon.
- If you over-pronate, your health care provider may prescribe custom-made shoe inserts, called orthotics, which help keep your foot stable.
- In some severe cases of Achilles tendonitis, your foot may be put in a cast for several weeks.
- A tear of the tendon may require surgery. Or your foot may be put in a cast for 6 to 10 weeks.
How can I prevent Achilles tendonitis?
The best way to prevent Achilles tendon injury is to stretch your calf muscles and Achilles tendons before exercise. If you have tight Achilles tendons or calf muscles, stretch them twice a day whether or not you are doing any sports activities that day.
If you have a tendency to get Achilles tendonitis, avoid running uphill a lot.
Updated: January 1999
Written by Pierre Rouzier, M.D., for Clinical Reference Systems.
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