Achilles Tendon The achilles is the tendon formed as the gastrocnemius and soleus - the calf muscles - join to insert on to the heel bone. For example, I have no swelling of any kind around the tendon, no crepitation and the location around the tendon isn't tender even if I squeeze it does not hurt at all. I've dealt with heel discomfort all my life and have had bone spurs removed from both heels in the past with surgery - together with the corresponding Achilles reattachment for that treatment. This is why moderate discomfort throughout the exercises is a good idea, and why adding weight over time is essential to gradually reinforce the tendon. We have a number of resources to help in the healing of achilles tendonitis including our 12 week exercise check sheet and our downloadable VISA achilles pain survey which is a great way to monitor how bad your injury is. If you have actually been using low-heeled minimal" shoes, racing flats, or spikes, you should stick to more conventional shoes with a higher heel up until your tendon is healthy again. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasounds can also verify an Achilles tendon tear; however, they are not always essential. If not captured early this can be a tough injury to treat however with the ideal treatment and especially eccentric enhancing exercises a full recovery can typically be attained. It is necessary to be patient and not return too soon to sports and activities that stress the tendon. I have actually been doing the heel-drops for over 6 weeks and I'm still experiencing some discomfort in my left achilles. I have actually utilized this devices on and off for spells at gyms and in your home for many years, however generally as an enhancement to running or soccer. My chiropractor mentioned that running more miles can actually help one overcome AT by thickening the tendon and making it more able to work around" damaged fibers, but I haven't examined whether there is research to support this. It keeps worsening and now the pain is v bad in the evening from extremely minimal activity. To check this, the doc might have you lie face down and flex your knee while she or he presses on your calf muscles to see if your foot bends.