Pain In The Back Of Your Heel? It Could Be Achilles Tendinitis

Pain at the back of the heel may be achilles tendinitis.

One of the more common foot injuries that we treat is pain arising from the back of the heel in the achilles tendon.  Let us discuss what it is, what caused it, what is aggravating it and more important what you can do about it.

Achilles tendinitis is inflammation and tendonosis is degeneration and irregular healing of the achilles tendon. 

The achilles tendon is the large tendon located in the back of the leg that inserts into the heel. The pain caused by achilles tendinitis/osis can develop gradually without a history of trauma. 

The pain can be a shooting pain, burning pain, or even an extremely piercing pain. Achilles tendinitis/osis should not be left untreated due to the danger that the tendon can become weak and rupture requiring surgery.

What is Achilles Tendinitis?

Achilles Tendinitis is the chronic shortening of the gastoc-soleus muscle complex. The muscle itself becomes shortened and causes constant stress at the tendons attachment. It’s like a branch being slowly bent, eventually it will begin to breakdown.This is why home remedies and anti-inflammatory medications fail.

Achilles tendinitis is aggravated by activities that repeatedly stress the tendon, causing inflammation.  In some cases even standing for long periods of time can cause symptoms. 

When the body's attempts to heal the tissue have failed, this results in degenerative changes known as Achilles Tendonosis. In this case anti-inflammatories, stretching and ice may provide temporary relief as it will address the inflammation but not the root cause.

Remember, if the pain persists in any part of the body longer than 3 weeks, it is not likely to go away on its own.

What does the Achilles Tendon do?

It is the largest tendon in the body, which allows you to walk, run, jump and go up & down stairs. It has to tolerate the highest loads in the body- up to 10 times one’s body weight during running, jumping and hopping type activities.

What can be done?

We aim to resolve Achilles Tendinitis or Tendinopathy by;

• Improving the tendons tolerance to load

• Biomechanical corrections around the foot, knee, hip and pelvis

• Manual Therapy- massage

• Strength Training and correcting training errors.

Type of treatment will depend on how serious the injury is. Your symptoms may take between 3- 6 months to resolve depending on how long you have had symptoms.

• To strengthen and stretch the Achilles Tendon.

•  We will give you a programme that will include Achilles Tendon stretches and Achilles Tendon exercises and heel lowering exercises on a step (referred to as eccentric loading). You will need to do these exercises every day.

• We may use additional techniques to help reduce your pain and speed up your recovery such as massage  or strapping .

•  You may also require having to asses your gait and perhaps make orthotics (insoles)

• Education is vital to resolving this issue as often Achilles Tendinitis or Tendinopathy is slow to heal and unless the patient is fully aware of what’s the treatment plan they may lapse and not improve. 

If you are having an issue with your Achilles Tendon call us today on (090) 622-4501 and get on the road to recovery.

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