Ankle Tendinopathy
What is it?
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The Achilles tendon attaches the calf muscles to the base of the heel. It allows us to point our toes and is useful in activities like walking, running and climbing stairs.
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Pain arising from the Achilles tendon is usually due to an overuse injury. This may or may not be correlated to a sudden increase in activity.
Typical Symptoms/features:
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Pain and/or swelling directly over the Achilles tendon, which can be tender to touch.
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Pain and stiffness when first walking in the morning. This usually eases within 30 minutes.
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Pain tends to be worse after activity and may last up to 24 hours.
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Pain on walking, running or stairs.
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Pain with wearing footwear which may press on or rub against the Achilles tendon (ex: ankle boots).
Management:
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Activity modification
- When you first start noticing Achilles tendon pain, it may help to reduce your activity for a short amount of time to allow the pain to settle.
- However, there is strong evidence that says keeping active and slowly returning to your normal levels of activity can actually help the pain to settle quicker.
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Ice or heat
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Pain relief
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Physiotherapy including range of movement exercises and a graded strengthening programme.
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In cases with severe and/or prolonged symptoms, other options such as shockwave therapy may need to be explored in addition to physiotherapy.
Do I need imaging?
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Imaging (X-rays or scans) is rarely required to diagnose Achilles tendon pain.
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X-rays and scans are most appropriately used after a serious injury.
