Achilles tendon injuries such as tendonitis are common in athletes. This important tendon connects the back of the heel to the calf, and though it is short, it is strong.
The Achilles tendon propels you forward with every step you take. Since the average person walks about 5,000-7,000 steps a day, that’s 5,000 times a day the tendon come under stress. If you overdo it, the tendon can become inflamed and very painful.
Achilles Tendinitis
Overuse injuries are the most common cause of Achilles tendinitis. For instance, athletes who run frequently without proper rest are at high risk. Weekend warriors, who may not exercise much during the week, are also susceptible to these injuries.
If you have Achilles tendinitis, you’ll feel pain in the back of your heel when you first get out of bed in the morning and with activity as the day goes on. It will become progressively worse and more inflamed as the day goes on, causing more pain.
If you feel this pain, it’s important to give your ankle time to rest and reduce inflammation, a process that can take four or five weeks. You should immobilize the ankle, take inflammatory medicines and use massage to give the tendon the chance to heal.
Ruptured Achilles Tendon
Without the proper healing time, you are at a high risk of Achilles tendon rupture. If you do experience a rupture, you will hear a loud pop. You won’t be able to put weight on your foot and may even e able to feel a gap in the back of the heel by the bone.
Ruptured tendons almost always require surgery to reconnect the tendon to the bone. Because the Achilles tendon has a very low blood supply, recovery after surgery is a very long process, taking months to complete.
Your ankle will need to be immobilized for weeks after surgery, and you’ll need physical therapy to help rebuild strength safely once you can move the ankle again.
Whether you had a rupture or tendinitis, you can avoid injuries in the future by properly stretching both before and after exercise. Wearing supportive shoes is also important to take stress off of the tendon. And above all, always take it slow when starting a new exercise regimen.
