The Achilles tendon is a band of fibrous tissue that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. The two-calf muscles that attaches to the heel bone are the gastrocnemius and soleus. The Achilles tendon lower part of the calf that attaches to the calcaneus. The Achilles tendon allows to stand, run, or jump while being on our toes. While doing any movement the calf muscles flex and pull on the heel. With the lack of blood supply, the tendon is more susceptible to injury. Achilles tendinitis most commonly occurs in runners who have suddenly increased the intensity or duration of their runs. Achilles tendinitis occurs when a tendon is unable to adapt to the strain being placed upon it. This leads to “repeated small amounts of damage within the tendon fibres, and result in the tendon trying to heal itself in response to the strain” (Reid 2015). The Achilles tendon becomes irritated and inflamed from overuse and degeneration. There are many factors that can contribute to Achilles tendinitis, but most occur from …show more content…
For the beginning symptoms of Achilles tendinitis, the most common treatment is icing the tendon to reduce inflammation and taking simple painkillers to reduce the pain. If the pain from the tendonitis does not get better, relative rest is recommended. Relative rest will maintain your fitness by using different forms of exercise that rest the Achilles tendon, such as swimming. Strengthening exercises should be introduced along with the relative rest. The strengthening exercises will be used to strengthen calf muscles and the plantar underneath the foot. Muscular strength, power, endurance, flexibility and motor control are important in physical performance and the improvement of these factors is therefore often prescribed in rehabilitation and injury prevention programs for tendon injuries (Hess et al., 1989, Stanish et al., 2000, Cook and Purdam,