For instance:. Call your healthcare provider right away if you hear a pop sound and have sudden pain in the back of your leg or heel. Otherwise, schedule an appointment if pain or trouble moving affects your regular daily activities. Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:. Skip to content. Achilles Tendon Injuries Not what you're looking for? Start New Search. What are Achilles tendon injuries?
What causes Achilles tendon injuries? Achilles tendon injuries can be caused by the following: Tendonitis Tendonitis might be due to overuse or damage to the area. There are two main types of tendonitis: Noninsertional Achilles tendonitis. Small tears in the middle fibers of your tendon start to break it down. This causes pain and swelling. This type of tendonitis usually affects active, younger adults.
Insertional Achilles tendonitis. This damage occurs in the spot where your tendon meets your heel bone. Bone spurs extra bone growth often form with this type.
This type of tendonitis can happen at any age, even in people who aren't active. Who is at risk for Achilles tendon injuries? The most common risk factors are: Increased amount or intensity of an activity or sport Starting a new sport Tight calf muscles when starting an exercise or sport, which can place more stress on your tendon Bone spurs on your heel, which can rub against the tendon Wearing the wrong shoes when you exercise Exercising on an uneven surface Treatment with the antibiotic fluoroquinolone.
What are the symptoms of an Achilles tendon injury? Common symptoms of tendon injuries include: Pain down the back of your leg or near your heel Pain that gets worse when you're active A stiff, sore Achilles tendon when you first get up Pain in the tendon the day after exercising Swelling with pain that gets worse as you're active during the day Thickening of your tendon Bone spurs on the heel bone Difficulty flexing the affected foot A pop sound and sudden sharp pain, which can mean a ruptured tendon.
How is an Achilles tendon injury diagnosed? Your healthcare provider will consider the following when making a diagnosis: Your overall health and medical history A description of your symptoms A physical exam of your Achilles tendon to check for bone spurs, pain, and swelling A test to see if you can move your ankle properly range of motion Imaging tests, such as ultrasound, X-ray, or MRI.
An X-ray shows bones and can show bone spurs and if the tendon has become calcified or hardened. Your provider will usually use MRI to see how severe the tendon damage is and what treatment is best for you. How are Achilles tendon injuries treated? It may include: Rest Ice Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs for pain relief, such as ibuprofen or naproxen Specific exercises to strengthen your calf muscles Physical therapy Eccentric strength training.
This type of exercise helps strengthen your calf muscles to take pressure off your tendon Low-impact activities, such as swimming Heel lifts in shoes, orthotic shoes, cast, splint, or a walking boot Extracorporeal shockwave therapy.
This treatment uses high-energy shockwave impulses to help stimulate the healing process in damaged tendon tissue. However, your healthcare provider may recommend it to see whether you can improve without surgery If these treatments don't work or if the injury is severe or complete, surgery may be considered. Some of the surgical procedures used include: Surgery to lengthen your calf muscles gastrocnemius recession Surgery to remove damaged tendon tissue or bone spurs and repair the tendon debridement Surgery to remove your damaged tendon tissue, fix the remaining tendon, and give it extra strength by moving another tendon to the heel bone.
What are possible complications of Achilles tendon injuries? Complications of an Achilles tendon injury may include: Pain, which can be severe Difficulty walking or being active Warping of your tendon area or heel bone Tendon rupture from reinjury Other complications can happen because of the treatments used to care for an Achilles tendon injury.
For instance: Sometimes cortisone injections can cause the tendon to tear Surgery can lead to pain and infection. As is the case with many other conditions injuries, it is important to stay as fit as possible during the healing and rehabilitation process. Swimming and other non-impact exercises are best, including bicycling, if that activity does not cause any pain which would indicate a liklihood of reinjury.
Running should be avoided at all costs until a rehabilitation specialist, trainer or doctor advises that sufficient recovery has taken place. Learn more about reliability data so you can avoid unnecessary risks. Achilles Tendon Injuries. Conditions and issues Chronic, long-lasting Achilles tendon disorders range from overuse injuries that cause inflammation or degeneration, to acute traumas such as Achilles tendon ruptures.
Back in the Game patient stories. Blog posts. In the news. In-person and virtual physician appointments. Seek medical advice immediately if you hear a pop in your heel, especially if you can't walk properly afterward. Your Achilles tendon helps you point your foot downward, rise on your toes and push off your foot as you walk.
You rely on it virtually every time you walk and move your foot. This section might be prone to rupture because blood flow is poor, which also can impair its ability to heal. Ruptures often are caused by a sudden increase in the stress on your Achilles tendon. Common examples include:. Your Achilles tendon connects the muscles in the back of your leg to your heel bone. The calf stretch exercise can help prevent an Achilles tendon rupture. To do the stretch, follow these steps: 1.
Stand at arm's length from a wall or a sturdy piece of exercise equipment. Put your palms flat against the wall or hold on to the piece of equipment. Keep one leg back with your knee straight and your heel flat on the floor. Slowly bend your elbows and front knee and move your hips forward until you feel a stretch in your calf.
Hold this position for 30 to 60 seconds. Switch leg positions and repeat with your other leg. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.
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