Achilles tendinitis describes inflammation of the Achilles tendon, which is the tissue that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone, according to the Mayo Clinic. It is the largest tendon in the body and can typically handle forces of one thousand pounds or more, says Fox Mill Foot and Ankle Center. This tendon is also the tendon most often ruptured, usually because of sustaining an injury while playing sports.
Symptoms
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, or AAOS, describes several symptoms of Achilles tendinitis. These include pain after exercising that gets progressively worse; a feeling of sluggishness in the affected leg; swelling; episodes of pain, which can be severe, down the tendon several hours after exercising and initial stiffness of the tendon that subsides after the tendon warms up during use.
What Causes Achilles Tendinitis?
The Mayo Clinic states that Achilles tendinitis occurs due to overuse or repetitive strain on the tendon. Some factors that can cause this injury include exercising without warming up beforehand, inflexible calf muscles, a sudden increase in distance in a running routine, wearing inappropriate footwear during exercising and running on uneven terrain.
Identification
In order to formally diagnose Achilles tendinitis, a physician will ask you questions about your physical activity and perform a physical exam to look at the tendon. She will touch the affected area and look for tenderness or swelling, as well as test for flexibility and range of motion. Imaging tests like x-rays, ultrasounds and MRI may also be done in order to obtain more accurate views of tissue degeneration or ruptures.
Treatment
RICE, which stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation, is a self-care treatment that can be used to treat Achilles tendinitis, says the Mayo Clinic. Medication like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, like Advil or Motrin, can help with pain and inflammation; and proper stretching can reduce the risk of recurrent injuries. Wearing orthotics and corticosteroid injections can help with healing of the tendon; surgery is usually considered as a last resort.
Surgery
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, or AAOS, concurs that surgery for Achilles tendinitis is a last resort, used only after other treatments have failed. Surgery to fix the condition involves surgery to remove fibrous tissue that has built up because of friction between the tendon and its covering, and to repair tears that may be in the tendon. Recovery after this surgery is long-term, and physical therapy and rehab is usually needed.
