The term ‘Achilles’ refers to the bone surrounded by group of tissues connecting the muscles of the lower leg to your heel. Any injury to the tendon of Achilles can cause inflammation leading to Achilles tendonitis. It is a common phenomenon that occurs in adults who over use this tendon tissues only for a day or two of the week. There are people who play basketball or any kind of sports only on Sundays or weekends. This can cause swelling of tendon causing intense pain. Often the pain can be managed by self care methods but in severe cases the tendon may get rupture inside requiring surgery.
Causes :
- Vigorous practice of sports activities like running or jumping can cause injury of Achilles tendon muscles.
- Participating in a marathon race without any practice can cause injury to the soft muscles and tissues that surrounds the tendon.
- Using poorly fitting shoes and footwear and putting extra tension on the foot muscles can cause inflammation of Achilles tendon.
- Using certain antibiotics like ciprofloxacin can affect the tendon muscles leading to easy rupture of tendon.
- Increasing age can also contribute for Achilles tendonitis since the tendon would become weak with age.
Symptoms :
- Mild to moderate injury of Achilles tendon can cause stiffness and pain. Often the pain reduces when you start walking but sometimes the pain can increase if you perform any vigorous action involving foot muscles.
- It can cause tenderness and swelling of tendon. Palpitation can be felt on the tendon. There would be intense pain while you move the ankle joint.
- Achilles tendonitis can cause mild pain in the lower leg just above the heel portion after you have completed running or any sports activity.
- Some people can feel intense pain after climbing stairs. Morning stiffness is common with this problem which would improve after you start walking.
Who are at risk?
For reasons unknown, men are more prone to develop Achilles tendonitis than women. Elderly people, people with physical problems in their foot, obese people, people who use ill fitting shoes, people who suddenly take part in any sports events, people with certain medical issues like hypertension or diabetes and prolonged use of antibiotics like fluoroquinone can get Achilles tendonitis. In rare cases the tendon can become weak causing internal rupture leading to severe pain that demands surgical correction.