AchillesTendon.com The Achilles Tendon Encyclopedia for people who: have an Achilles tendon injury, want to recover from an Achilles tendon injury, and want to prevent (or prevent the recurrence of) an Achilles tendon injury. The Achilles tendon is fibrous tissue that connects the heel to the muscles of the lower leg: the calf muscles. Leg muscles are the most powerful muscle group in the body and the Achilles tendon is the thickest and strongest tendon in the body. Contracting the calf muscles pulls the Achilles tendon, which pushes the foot downward. This contraction enables: standing on the toes, walking, running, and jumping. Each Achilles tendon is subject to a person’s entire body weight with each step. Depending upon speed, stride, terrain and additional weight being carried or pushed, each Achilles tendon may be subject to up to 3-12 times a person’s body weight during a sprint or push off. For more information on Achilles tendon anatomy see: Physiology.
Larger version of Achilles Tendon Illustratations Causes of Injury  Overuse, misalignment, improper footwear, medication side effects, and/or accidents can all result in Achilles tendon injuries. Multiple causes often contribute to the same Achilles tendon injury. For information on each of these Achilles tendon injury causes, see Causes of Injury Preventing Injuries The best way to prevent an Achilles tendon injury is to a) stay in overall good shape, and b) warm-up, stretch, and strengthen the Achilles tendons. The best way to prevent an Achilles tendon injury from getting worse is to address the injury immediately: it will get worse if not addressed. For more information on preventing Achilles tendon injuries see: Preventing Injuries.
Injuries Undue strain results in over 230,000 Achilles tendon injuries per year in the U.S. alone. The undue strain could be caused by a variety of factors, including: tightness or weakness of the leg, knee, hip, or back; high or low arches; uneven leg lengths; alternating between high (2”) heels and exercise shoes; and/or sudden (rather than gradual) increases in training, such as running faster, further, or up steeper hills. The most common Achilles tendon injuries are  Achilles tendinosis (formerly called Achilles tendonitis) and Achilles tendon rupture. Achilles tendinosis is a soreness and stiffness that comes on gradually and continues to worsen until treated.  It often starts with stiffness and creaking when first getting out of bed in the morning.  Lightly pinching the Achilles tendon with the forefinger and thumb will indicate soreness. Achilles tendinosis is a common injury among middle and long distance runners. Achilles tendon rupture is a partial or complete tear of the Achilles tendon. It comes on suddenly, sometimes with a popping sound, and is debilitating.  Partial and full Achilles tendon ruptures are most likely to occur in sports requiring sudden eccentric stretching, such as sprinting and racquet sports. Partial Achilles tendon tears are also common among middle and long distance runners. Achilles tendon ruptures are most likely to occur to middle age athletes who have not been training or who have been doing relatively little training. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between Achilles tendinosis and a partial Achilles tendon tear. Consult a physician to be sure. For more information on these and other Achilles tendon injuries see: Injuries.
Treating Injuries Treatment for Achilles tendinosis includes: relative rest, muscle strengthening, physical therapies (i.e. ultrasound, laser photostimulation, electrical stimulation), and ice.  Treatment for an Achilles rupture includes complete immobilization, or in the most severe cases: surgery. Consult a physician to be sure. For more information on treating these and other Achilles tendon injuries see: Treating Injuries.
Specialists A large number of researchers, scientists, doctors, sports trainers and physical therapists have practices that include the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of Achilles tendon injuries. A select number of these specialists whose education and practice have made them Achilles tendon experts are listed under Specialists.   Footwear Correct footwear can be one of the keys to preventing, recovering from, and preventing the reoccurrence of, Achilles tendon injuries. Incorrect footwear can cause or exacerbate Achilles tendon injuries. Selecting the right shoe or sneaker in terms of cushioning, arch height, and pronation is always beneficial.  Some people experience a tremendous temporary benefit from a little extra padding or cushioning under the heel. The temporary heel padding reduces the length of Achilles tendon stretching made with each step or stride. Many find motion control (anti-pronation) shoes helpful. Others require custom made: shoe inserts (orthotics), shoes, or sport shoes - designed specifically for the unique requirements of an individual’s feet and activities. In extreme cases a brace may be required to immobilize an injured Achilles tendon. For more information on shoes, sports shoes, inserts, cushions, orthotics and braces that may be beneficial to Achilles tendons see: Footwear.   Research Researchers in science, medicine, sports, and physical therapy have studied the Achilles tendon. The information presented on AchillesTendon.com is based on these studies. To review the results and conclusions of Achilles tendon research see: Research.   In The News For a sampling of recent Achilles tendon news stories, see In The News..   Real Tendon, Mythical Hero The Achilles tendon is named after Achilles: the ancient Greek hero of the Trojan War. Achilles was invulnerable except for one spot on his heel. After many adventures and victories he was killed by an arrow shot into his heel. As a result of the Achilles legend, the expression Achilles heel came to mean a fatal vulnerability, and the tendon connecting the heel to the calf became known as the Achilles tendon. For more information on Achilles the mythical hero, see: Achilles.   Other Names In addition to Achilles heel, the Achilles tendon is also known as the heel cord, heel tendon, and calcenean tendon.