Managing Achilles Tendon Injuries Achilles tendon discomfort is a typical running injury that impacts the lower calf/heel location. Use reasonable sports training strategies, such as wearing the right shoes and stretching before activities. Practically all the force created when you toe off" the ground throughout running is sent by the Achilles, and this force can be as much as three times your body weight. My conditioning was back on track and I began playing complete field soccer again with no heel pain. Ice: Apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel or a cold compress to your tendon for 15 minutes or more after you exercise or if you feel pain in the tendon. The Achilles tendon is the thickest and best tendon in your body, linking your calf muscles to the back of your heel. The tendon will be very tender on palpation or pressing in on the achilles tendon or squeezing it from the sides. Typically, the closer a shoe is to feeling and looking like a running shoe," the better it is for your foot. The night splint certainly helped, however what finally got me back on the streets was ART treatment. Being out of shape or not warming up before exercising may likewise trigger Achilles tendon issues. If your doctor believes it will assist, attempt a pair of prescription orthotic inserts for your shoes. Achilles tendonitis normally starts off as a dull tightness in the tendon, which slowly goes away as the location gets heated up. It may get worse with faster running, uphill running, or when wearing spikes and other low-heeled running shoes. After about four or five weeks the results ended up being obvious that I was moving with a great deal less discomfort in my heel.