Achilles Tendinitis

Pain in the back of the ankle while walking or running could be caused by a condition called Achilles tendinitis. The pain is often severe enough to make walking difficult and running impossible. The good news is that non-surgical treatment works most of the time if treated early.

Achilles tendinitis is most common in older adults who are more active, although it can occur in teenagers who do a lot of running and jumping. It is more prevalent in older adults because, as the body ages, it loses strength and elasticity.

The Achilles tendon is located in the back of the ankle and is the largest tendon in the body. it is a cord-like band that attaches to the back of the foot. Tendons attach muscles to bones. The Achilles tendon attaches two muscles to the calcaneus (the heel bone):

• Gastrocnemius

• Soleus

These two muscles together are stronger than all the lower leg muscles combined, creating massive forces on the Achilles tendon. They provide balance for the body when standing up, forward motion while walking, faster forward motion while running, and the force needed to jump. These great forces make the Achilles tendon more prone to injury. The inflammation that develops after an injury is called Achilles tendinitis.

Call Shari L. Kaminsky, DPM PC, to assess the pain in the back of your ankle.