Pain is the major symptom. The area may be tender and slightly swollen. Some redness may be present, but usually, the only symptom is pain.
The pain occurs whenever pressure is put on the foot, particularly the heel. So, it interferes with sports and makes physical activity difficult, if not impossible.
Usually, the condition is caused by overuse or athletic training that occurs under less than ideal conditions, for example, training in the rain or cold, as a football player might be required to do. But, the cause of the pain has to do with the lack of blood supply to the tendon.
When inflammation occurs, its purpose is to help heal the injury. White blood cells and many other bio-chemicals rush to the scene of the injury. It is that rush of blood and fluids to the area that causes the swelling, commonly associated with inflammation.
The Achilles tendon does not have the best blood supply, primarily because the space it occupies is narrow. There is little room for the rush of reparative bio-chemicals. So, blood vessels in surrounding structures become involved, migrating into the tendon, to increase the blood supply.
But, the new blood vessel growth is accompanied by nerve fibers. That, researchers believe, is the ultimate cause of the pain and the reason that it sometimes becomes chronic.
A number of different treatments are available, all based on designs developed by respected hospitals, such as the Mayo Clinic. When the initial injury (the first episode of pain) occurs, rest and ice are the best therapies. In other words, stop doing what you are doing. Continued overuse can cause a rupture.
In many cases the pain is not serious, but chronic. There are a number of devices developed by respected hospitals that can help relieve the pain immediately, so that you can get on with your game. The Cho-pat is one of them.
In addition to the immediate treatments mentioned above, physical therapy is recommended to help strengthen the tendon and avoid injury in the future. A therapist or trainer can recommend special exercise routines.
Since the condition is so common, special tools and aids have been developed to make stretching and strengthening the tendon easier. Examples include the “Step Stretch” and the “Stretch Rite Trainer”.
When safe and healthy exercise habits are combined with the use of low-heeled shoes, the pain of Achilles Tendonitis may be prevented.