Achilles tendinopathy

Achilles tendinopathy is pain in the Achilles tendon and is an injury to the band of tissue (tendon) that connects the calf muscles to the heel.

It is a common overuse injury. It can cause pain, stiffness, swelling and weakness of the Achilles tendon. This tendon is placed under significant load when subjected to activities involving repeated impact work, particularly if you're very active or do lots of sports. However, many non-sports people also develop Achilles tendinopathy due to repetitive activities. can cause pain, stiffness, swelling and weakness of the Achilles tendon.

Achilles tendinopathy can be reliably diagnosed by understanding the history of the symptoms and examination by your doctor or physiotherapist. In some circumstances, it may be necessary to have a biomechanical evaluation of foot mechanics. Further investigations such as Ultrasound or MRI scan may be necessary if the tendon is suspected to have ruptured.

Treatment for Achilles tendinopathy

In most cases, treatment for an acute episode includes rest, applying a cold/ice pack to the painful area, and over-the-counter analgesia such as paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

The main treatment is physiotherapy, which can help you get through a stage of acute pain and work with rehabilitation and progressive strengthening to get back to your normal activities wherever possible while avoiding activities that aggravate the condition.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT), a non-surgical procedure, may be considered in persistent cases.

Surgery may be necessary when all other treatment modalities have not significantly reduced the pain.

Accessing an appointment

An appointment with an experienced foot and ankle consultant, sports medicine specialist or physiotherapist could be helpful. The specialist will diagnose the cause of your ankle pain and discuss suitable treatment options with you.