Everything you need to know about pain in the region of the achilles tendon!
I’m sure most of you are familiar with the term “achilles tendon. “ If you’re reading this, chances are that you’ve already experienced pain in this area yourself.
Given the demands imposed upon the achilles tendon in a sport such as running, it’s no surprise that runners so often experience pain in this region. Most commonly we see these issues arise in middle aged distance runners, but it is an issue that can affect all demographics. The tendon, which can withstand loads of >10x your body weight is often the subject of attention in the sports world when related to injuries.
Today we are going to focus our attention on a term known as “Achilles Tendinopathy.” This term is often used to describe pain and dysfunction in the region of the achilles tendon.
There are two types of Achilles Tendinopathy
Mid Portion (most common)
Insertional
Use this picture to better determine what type of issue you may have
Those presenting with pain in these areas typically report pain following initiation of activity or sport (especially after a long lay off, or minimal preparation).
Some factors that can play a role in aggravating pain in the areas noted above include:
Hill running
Transitioning footwear suddenly
Sudden surface changes during running or training
Excessive ankle mobility
Stiffness in the ankle
Weakness in the calf muscle complex
Typical symptoms or characteristics with those presenting with achilles pain can include some or all of the following:
Morning Pain
Pain with squeezing or compressing the tendon
Swelling or Thickening of the tendon
Stiffness
Pain with increased loading
Check out our social media channels (Instagram & Facebook) detailing different stretches to improve mobility in this region, self mobilization techniques to reduce pain, and strengthening exercises to build a more resilient tendon.
Stay Healthy,
Brian
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