Handling Achilles Tendon Injuries Achilles tendon pain is a common running injury that impacts the lower calf/heel area. Use reasonable sports training strategies, such as wearing the right shoes and stretching prior to activities. Practically all of the force produced when you toe off" the ground during running is transferred by the Achilles, and this force can be as much as three times your body weight. My conditioning was back on track and I started playing full field soccer again with no heel discomfort. Ice: Apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel or a cold compress to your tendon for 15 minutes or more after you work out or if you feel discomfort in the tendon. The Achilles tendon is the thickest and greatest tendon in your body, connecting your calf muscles to the back of your heel. The tendon will be really tender on palpation or pushing in on the achilles tendon or squeezing it from the sides. Normally, the closer a shoe is to feeling and looking like a running shoe," the better it is for your foot. The night splint certainly assisted, however what finally got me back on the streets was ART treatment. Running out shape or not warming up prior to working out may also trigger Achilles tendon problems. If your doctor thinks it will assist, try a pair of prescription orthotic inserts for your shoes. Achilles tendonitis generally starts off as a dull tightness in the tendon, which gradually disappears as the location gets warmed up. It might get worse with faster running, uphill running, or when using spikes and other low-heeled running shoes. After about 4 or 5 weeks the outcomes ended up being noticeable that I was moving with a lot less pain in my heel.