Achilles Tendonitis

We don’t realize how hard our ankles and feet work until something goes wrong. Achilles tendonitis is an “overuse” condition affecting the large tendon that connects your foot with your knee, running from the back of the heel to the calf. Although the Achilles tendon can withstand a force of up to 1,000 pounds, it’s also the tendon most frequently ruptured. These are usually caused by overuse, poor stretching, or other athletic activities, but you can develop problems with the tendon from your daily activities, especially if you have an active job that keeps you on your feet a lot.

Although we recommended a professional evaluation to determine the exact nature of the problems with your Achilles tendon, if you experience one or more of these symptoms, we need to get you in for a check-up:

• Swelling at the back of the heel or along the Achilles tendon
• Detectable bone spurs at the back of the heel or base of the tendon (may indicate insertional tendonitis)
• Heel pain when you stretch your calf
• Inability to pint your toes or other limited range of motion

We begin with a physical exam to ascertain your range of motion, abilities, and pain levels. After this exam, we often recommend in-depth exams like X-rays, an ultrasound, or an MRI.

Once we’ve ascertained the nature of the Achilles tendon issue, we’ll create a custom care plan, starting with the least-invasive therapies (like rest, ice, and elevation) before moving on to more invasive procedures like surgery.