Managing Achilles Tendon Injuries Achilles tendon pain is a typical running injury that impacts the lower calf/heel location. Usage sensible sports training methods, such as using the right shoes and stretching prior to activities. Essentially all the force generated 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 full field soccer again without any heel pain. Ice: Use an ice bag 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 strongest tendon in your body, linking your calf muscles to the back of your heel. The tendon will be very tender on palpation or pushing in on the achilles tendon or squeezing it from the sides. Typically, the closer a shoe is to looking and feeling like a running shoe," the much better it is for your foot. The night splint definitely helped, but exactly what finally got me back on the streets was ART treatment. Running out shape or not heating up prior to exercising might also trigger Achilles tendon problems. If your physician thinks it will help, attempt a pair of prescription orthotic inserts for your shoes. Achilles tendonitis usually begins as a dull tightness in the tendon, which gradually goes away as the area gets heated up. It may worsen with faster running, uphill running, or when using spikes and other low-heeled running shoes. After about 4 or five weeks the results ended up being obvious that I was moving with a great deal less pain in my heel.