The Achilles tendon is the strongest and thickest tendon in the human body. It is required for normal walking, jumping and exercises. It is one of the most common tendons to become inflamed from over use. Often times we see patients who recently had a change in exercise activities or who just started a new exercise program that develop Achilles pain. Some of the most common symptoms patients experience with this condition include:

● Pain when first getting out of bed

● Swelling around the heel

● Stiffness of ankle when first start walking

● A grabbing or catching sensation around the Achilles

Some of the first lines of treatments for Achilles tendonitis include icing and stretching as well as an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen. We strongly encourage people to seek medical intervention for Achilles pain as the long term complications can include rupturing or tearing of the tendon. For some great stretches please see the following video.