What is Achilles' Tendinopathy?

The Achilles tendon attaches the muscles of the calf to the back of the heel.

Achilles tendinopathy may be painful after a period of prolonged rest, such as first thing in the mornings.

When exposed to an increased load, a tendon will adapt if it is given time to recover before loading again. Overloading a tendon causes pain and may lead to structural changes in the tissue if not managed appropriately.

Initially treatment for tendinopathy focuses on pain relief. Then the tendon must be gradually loaded to allow the tissue to strengthen and adapt.