The Achilles tendon is the body’s largest and strongest ligament. It is an elastic band between the calf muscle and heel bone. The Achilles tendon is important because it allows us to bend and stretch the foot. It is therefore very important for mobility. With each step we take, the Achilles tendon carries our full weight. It can withstand enormous force even though it is only about 0.5 cm thick.
Depending on the speed of movement, stride length, underlay and whether the weight is carried or pulled, an Achilles tendon may be exposed to forces many times greater than the person’s body weight – in fact, anything up to ten times body weight!

An inflammation in the Achilles tendon that connects the calf muscles and heel bone. The Achilles tendon is the body’s largest and strongest ligament.
An inflammation of the Achilles tendon is normally a strain injury related to running or other sport as a result of activities that overload the Achilles tendon and calf muscles.

In most cases, an inflamed Achilles tendon can be treated relatively simply at home. Persistent care will often be required to prevent a recurrence of the inflammation.
In severe cases, the Achilles tendon can tear or rupture and require surgery to repair the damaged ligament tissue.
If you have an inflamed or overstretched Achilles tendon, the healing process is often painful and can take months. Read here what causes pain and how you can get relief:

• Symptoms
• Cause(s)
• Treatment and prevention
• Align Footwear

What are the symptoms of inflammation in the Achilles tendon?

The signs of an inflammation in the Achilles tendon tend to vary. The degree of pain is also individual.
The following symptoms may indicate that you have an inflamed Achilles tendon:

• Tenderness or mild pain at the back of the leg and across the heel after running or other sports activities.
• Episodes of more severe pain in connection with longer runs or intensive training (e.g. sprinting).
• Tenderness or stiffness – especially in the morning, which improves in response to gentle activity
• A little swelling or lump on the Achilles tendon
• Your Achilles tendon “squeaks” as it moves
• Weakness or heaviness in the lower leg.

If you have an inflammation, it is important that you rest. If you do not rest, an ordinary inflammation can develop into a chronic condition.

The pain may shift from directly on the Achilles tendon or the bone to one or both sides of the Achilles tendon. The location of the pain depends, for example, on how your foot was strained and what kind of movement triggered the strain.

You should initially focus on reducing training intensity. After running, you can put an ice bag on your Achilles tendon. You may not necessarily have to stop running but you should shift focus to milder training. You must not overload or stress your Achilles tendon.
Moreover, it is important to avoid over-stretching an inflamed Achilles tendon. A gentle stretch can help to improve the flow of blood whereas excessive stretching of the tendon will overload/stress an Achilles tendon that is already tender and swollen.

Remember: NEVER stretch an injured tendon so much that it is painful.
Avoid provoking pain in your Achilles tendon. You are well advised to wear insoles. In many cases, insoles will relieve pressure on your Achilles tendon. You should also avoid walking on bare feet.

How to treat recurrent tenderness in the Achilles tendon.
To promote healing/restitution, place an ice bag on the tender spot for 10-15 minutes. It is often a good idea to massage the calf muscle and stretch well before and after exercise. Wear shoes that provide support to the weak part of your foot. Buy insoles to relieve pressure.
Listen to your body! If you continue to overload your Achilles tendon despite the pain, you may in time end up with a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Inflamed and damaged ligament tissue takes 9-12 months to heal. If your Achilles tendon is inflamed or ruptured, the healing process is a long one.

You can do the following:

• Massage the muscles of the calf, foot, rear thigh, buttocks and back.
• Slow rehabilitation and strengthening of the Achilles tendon. Your physiotherapist or doctor can give you exercises to do at home.
• At the same time, insoles can relieve and correct your foot position.

What can Align Footwear® do?

First and foremost, an insole provides your feet with optimal support and shock absorption. The insole focuses on correcting foot position to reduce the risk and prevent injury. Performance often also improves.
An insole often provides arch support. There are many variants and brands on the market. Each addresses the various problems and needs that can occur if you have an active lifestyle and engage in sports activities on a regular basis. Most types of insoles focus on the arch. Many feature a wedge or cushion that supports the arch. Align Footwear’s approach to foot health is new. We choose not to place an artificial support under the forefoot, e.g. a forefoot compression pad. This was a common solution in the past. To our way of thinking, insoles should be designed to control the ankle, optimise physical potential and give all the muscles under our feet room to move as nature intended. If you wear insoles with compression pads, your foot is restrained and the foot muscles prevented from exercising and becoming stronger.

Align Footwear® insoles have good shock absorbing properties. If you are an active runner, jumper or move faster or more often than others, our insoles relieve the strain on your muscles, ligaments and joints.
If you feel pain in your feet, we recommend that you seek medical attention. A doctor or physiotherapist can explain more about how your foot is constructed. If you have ill-fitting shoes, they will squeeze your feet and may cause discomfort and even pain not only in your feet, but also in your ankles, knees and hips. Failure to relieve pressure on your joints, muscles and feet or adequately absorb pressure may ultimately cause permanent damage and chronic pain.