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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffA diagnosis of Achilles tendinitis is based on your answers to questions, results of a physical examination and, if necessary, imaging tests.
Exam
Your doctor will gently touch (palpate) the affected area to determine the location of pain, tenderness or swelling. He or she will also judge the flexibility, alignment, range of motion and reflexes of your foot and ankle.
Imaging tests
Imaging tests can help rule out other causes of symptoms and reveal damage to the tendon. Your doctor may order one or more of the following tests:
- X-ray, which produces images of hard tissues, can help rule out other causes of symptoms.
- Ultrasound, an image of soft tissues produced with the use of sound waves, can reveal signs of inflammation and damage to the Achilles tendon. The images can also produce live-action images of the tendon in motion.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce cross-sectional views or 3-D images, can show details about tissue degeneration and tendon ruptures.
- 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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