Achilles Tendonitits Strain Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Options

The calf has two muscles: the gastrocnemius and the soleus. They meet to form the Achilles tendon, the large fibrous cord that runs down the back of your lower leg. It connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. The Achilles tendon is used for push-off strength, balance, and power while standing, walking, running, and jumping. This tendon can be strained or partially torn, making it difficult to walk or run. A sports injury can also lead to Achilles overuse and strain.

An Achilles tendon strain is associated with forceful muscle contraction at the same time the muscle is being stretched. This injury frequently occurs in athletes who play sports that involve running, jumping, and sudden starts and stops. Achilles tendonitis strain often stems from tendon microtears or calf tightness due to intense physical activity or inadequate warm-up.

Achilles tendon strains are most common in these sports:

• Tennis and other racket sports
• Soccer
• Running

Achilles tendon strains usually come on suddenly. Athletes with this injury find it difficult to push off the injured leg when walking. The most common symptom of an Achilles tendon strain is pain in the back of the heel. Other symptoms include difficulty walking and exercising. In many cases, these symptoms are a result of cumulative Achilles overuse.

If you experience an injury and have pain in the back of your heel or leg, or if you experience difficulty walking due to pain or weakness during push off, you should see your doctor. During your visit, your doctor will inspect your calf and make sure that you do not have signs of rupture, such as tenderness, swelling, a gap in the tendon, or shortening of the calf. To help make a diagnosis, your doctor may conduct the “Thompson test,” a physical exam in which the patient lies face down with both knees flexed. The foot associated with the rupture often hangs at a different angle than the uninjured leg. Squeezing the calf muscle of a leg with a ruptured Achilles tendon does not move the foot on the injured leg. If you have an Achilles strain or partial tear, your foot will move up and down normally. Your doctor may also order imaging tests, such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test, to make sure you do not have an Achilles tendon rupture.

Treatment of Achilles tendon strains is almost always non-operative.

Conservative treatments may include:

• Using crutches to take weight off the calf muscles and tendons
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, to relieve pain
• Applying ice to the affected area
• Compression
• Wearing a special brace or boot to prevent movement of the lower leg and ankle
• Physical therapy or massage exercises

Try these exercises to help address your condition:

Below is a PDF of the Exercise Program

Achilles Tendonitis

If an Achilles tendon strain doesn’t improve with conservative treatment after several months, your doctor may refer you to an orthopaedic surgeon. Surgery may be needed to remove scar tissue, repair the damaged tendon, extend the calf muscle, or address other issues identified by your doctor.

Recovery from an Achilles strain  will vary depending on the extent of damage to the tendon. For some athletes, strains  will resolve in a matter of days with treatment. For others, a much longer recovery time will be required before they can return to play. Physical therapy will be an important part of the rehabilitation process. A sports injury that involves Achilles overuse or untreated tendon microtears may result in extended healing timelines.