Achilles Tendonitis
Tendonitis of the Achilles affects the tendon that connects the calf muscle to the back of the heel, and is very common for runners. This ailment causes extremely painful sensations in the back of the ankle just above the heel extending up to the base of the calf. It causes this area to be very tender and inflamed. Like all types of tendonitis, the pain felt is a result of extensive inflammation and repeated aggravation of the tendon. Inflammation increases with friction and must subside for tendon to heal properly and return to normal function. It can be very severe and, as a result, runners should address tendonitis in the earliest stages. After tendonitis sets in, continued training increases the severity of the pain and inflammation. If ignored, Tendonitis can result in Tendinosis (chronic tendonitis) which can literally end one’s days of running. This form of tendonitis can result in long term damage and extended periods of no training.
Like other ailments experienced by runners, the cause of Achilles Tendonitis is all too often improper form and footwear. Also, runners who train with high speed intervals, quick direction changes, and uphill training are more prone to this ailment. Imbalanced lower leg muscles cause extensive strain on the Achilles Tendon. As a preventative measure, many runners do targeted strength training to balance the strength of the lower leg muscles.
