Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles tendonitis is a condition of irritation and inflammation of the Achilles tendon. Achilles tendon is a large tendon at the back of the ankle that connects the large calf muscles to the heel bone (calcaneus). Overuse of the Achilles tendon can cause inflammation that can lead to pain and swelling. Achilles tendonitis is associated with pain behind the heel, with the pain usually most prominent in an area about 2-4 centimeters above where the tendon attaches to the heel.

Causes of Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles tendonitis is a common overuse injury that tends to occur in recreational athletes. Too much too soon is the basic cause of overuse injuries, however other factors can contribute to developing the condition, like:

• Changes in exercise training schedules (increase in activity).
• Recent changes in footwear.
• Less recovery time between activities.
• Overpronation.
• Wearing high heels constantly.

Treatment

Treatment is possible with ice, cold compression therapy, wearing heel pads to reduce the strain on the tendon. Some people have reported vast improvement after applying light to medium compression around ankles and lower calf by wearing elastic bandages throughout the day. Compression accelerates healing by improving circulation.