Achilles Heel

Achilles heel (or tendinosis) is a painful condition of the Achilles tendon, where it fails to do its job due to an abnormal re-structuring of the tendon. The Achilles tendon's job is to transmit forces generated by the calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus) to the heel bone (calcaneus) without failure or pain. It is the strongest tendon in the body capable of transmitting, in a healthy state, twelve and a half times your body weight during fast running.

It is a common condition amongst sports people, but 30% of cases occur in non-athletes. Achilles heel pain is often experienced during and/or after (even the next morning) strenuous physical activities, such as running and jumping, but it can be experienced simply with walking.

The occurrence of Achilles heel is highest among individuals who participate in middle and long-distance running, orienteering, track and field, tennis, badminton, volleyball, and football.  

Pain at the back of the heel generally occurs at the beginning and end of a training session, with a period of relative ease in between. As the condition progresses, pain may occur during exercise, and, in severe cases, it can interfere with activities of daily living.

During a flare-up, the tendon becomes diffusely swollen, hot and tender to touch a little above the heel bone. The tendon in chronic Achilles heel is tender, thickened and nodular and is not an inflammatory condition.

Achilles heel is a condition that develops over time as a result of excessive tension stress on the tendon by the calf muscle(s). The process leads to a gradual weakening of the tendon making it vulnerable to sudden injury during more strenuous activities or even during daily activities. In this state it more likely to completely rupture.