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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffAchilles tendinitis, or inflammation of the tendon, is caused by repetitive or intense strain on the tendon.
Your Achilles tendon is a large band of tissue connecting the muscles in the back of your lower leg to your heel bone. Also called the heel cord, the Achilles tendon is used when you walk, run, jump or push up on your toes.
A number of factors may contribute to the onset of Achilles tendinitis:
- A rapid increase in the distance or speed of a running regimen
- New or intense hill running or stair climbing
- Sports that require jumps or sudden starts and stops, such as basketball or tennis
- Exercising without warming up
- A new, intense exercise regimen after a long period of not exercising regularly
- Poor flexibility in the calf muscles
- Running on uneven or hard surfaces
- Wearing shoes that are worn out or inappropriate for the activity
- A naturally flat arch, which can put more strain on the Achilles tendon
- Other slight variations in the foot, ankle or leg anatomy that may put extra strain on the tendon
- Traumatic injury to the tendon
- Achilles tendonitis. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00147. Accessed March 12, 2010.
- Achilles tendinitis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec21/ch324/ch324m.html. Accessed March 12, 2010.
- Baer G, et al. Tendon injuries of the foot and ankle. In: DeLee J, et al., eds. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/0/view/2079/72.html. Accessed March 15, 2010.
- Simpson MR, et al. Tendinopathies of the foot and ankle. American Family Physician. 2009;80:1107.
- Laskowski ER (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 22, 2010.
- Sampson S, et al. Platelet rich plasma injection grafts for musculoskeletal injuries: A review. Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine. 2008;1:165.
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