The Achilles is a thick, cord-like tendon that begins at the back of the heel and rises up toward the calf. Achilles tendonitis (tendinitis) can be debilitating caused by an extremely piercing pain or burning pain at the back area of the heel. The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle of the leg to the heel bone. The degree of injury ranges from an irritated tendon to a tear or even a complete rupture of the tendon.
Common mitigating factors include:
- improper training program for athletes.
- wearing footwear that is ill-fitted or badly worn.
- improper warmup (or cool-down) for your activity.
- lack of flexibility in the calf muscles.
- wearing high heels that can shrink the tendon and become more vulnerable to injury.
This injury is problematic among athletes especially runners and professional dancers, as both activites stress the achilles tendon quite heavily.
If your Achilles tendon is feeling sore and weak without any sharp pain, you may be suffering from Achilles tendinosis. This condition is more common and is the degeration of the tendon tissue rather than inflammation of the tendon. It is cause by overuse and slight wear and tear of the tendon over time.
If you feel a sharp pain, as though you’ve been hit in the back of the ankle, and hear a “pop” sound, your Achilles tendon has likely ruptured. A ruptured (completely torn) Achilles tendon can occur when the Achilles tendon is overstressed to the point of tearing. It will be very difficult for you to walk or move your ankle if this is the case.
The exact cause of a rupture is difficult to say. However, it seems to occur more frequently when the tendon and the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles in the calf are weak. Weaker muscles are shorter and tighter than usually and this causes more stress on the Achilles tendon. A forceful stretch of the tendon while the calf muscles are contracting and the leg is moving forward can cause a rupture to occur.
An Achilles injury should never go untreated because it can lead to the weakening of the tendon and possibly chronic pain or a rupture. An injured, weakened tendon held together by scar tissue is very susceptible to a rupture because it is not strong enough to withstand the demands placed on it during exercise or everyday activities.