Symptoms
If you have achilles tendonitis you are likely to experience:
- Stiffness in the morning or after long periods of sitting down
- Pain and thickening of the tendon at the back of your heel
- Tightness in your calf muscles
- Difficulty walking and moving around
- Difficulty flexing and rotating your foot fully
Causes
Your achilles tendon can become damaged through overuse or due to sudden stretching or twisting of the lower leg or ankle, which can cause inflammation and pain. This can occur for a number of reasons, including:
- Overtraining – running and sports
- Poor footwear
- Wear and tear in older age
- Trauma or injury to the area
- Repetitive strain to your calf muscles or the feet
- Biomechanics – how your body functions as a whole and distributes weight
Treatment with us
Step by step we can help you to feel better.
Your physiotherapist will discuss a treatment plan with you, which is likely to include:
- Soft-tissue massage
- Joint mobilisation
- Biomechanics and orthotics
- Resting and avoiding irritation
- Heat and ice to relieve pain and swelling
- Wearing a foot support or bandage
- Exercise therapy
