What are the symptoms of achilles tendonitis (tendinitis)

Acute inflammation symptoms:

• During exercise the tendon will be painful.
• Swelling over the Achilles tendon.
• Redness over the skin.
• If you press your fingers into it and move your foot you may feel creaking.

If acute achilles tendonitis is not properly treated it can develop into chronic achilles tendinitis. The pains experienced during the acute phase of the injury tend to disappear after a warm up but return when training has stopped. Eventually the injury gets worse and worse until it is impossible to run.

Symptoms for chronic Achilles tendonitis are similar to those of acute tendonitis as well as:

• Pain (sometimes described as diffuse along the tendon) and stiffness in the Achilles tendon especially in the morning.
• There may nodules or lumps in the achilles tendon, particularly 2cm above the heel.
• When walking up hills or stairs there may well be pain in the tendon.

What are the causes of achilles tendonitis?

• This is an overuse injury. These are normally caused by doing too much too soon in training.
• Too much running up hills will cause the tendon to fatigue and this will predispose it to this tendinitis.
• Overpronation or feet which roll in can place an increased strain on the achilles tendon. As the foot rolls in (flattens) the lower leg rotates inwards also which twists the achilles tendon causing stress.
• Wearing high heels shortens the tendon, if you then place demands on the tendon, such as running 5 miles in flat shoes, you will put abnormal strain on the tendon making it stretch further than it is comfortable.

Useful Products:

• Cold Therapy - to help reduce pain and swelling.
• Achilles Tendon Strap - for acute achilles pain.
• Arch Support Insoles - to help prevent over pronation.
• Heel Pads - will raise the heel and take some of the strain off of the achilles tendon.

Please see the Virtual Sports Injury Clinic for more information on how to treat Achilles Tendonitis