Achilles Pain

The Achilles is the strongest tendon in the body, but it doesn’t respond well to sudden change.

Achilles pain typically presents as morning stiffness, pain on starting activity that warms up, and tenderness along the tendon. It splits into mid-portion (the bulky middle of the tendon) and insertional (where the tendon meets the heel bone), and the two need different treatment.

Common causes

• Sudden increase in running or walking distance
• Hill or sprint training without progression
• Tight calves and limited ankle dorsiflexion
• Flat feet causing tendon overload
• Aging tendon changes

How we treat it

• Differentiating mid-portion vs insertional Achilles pain
• Progressive loading program (heel raises, eccentrics)
• Heel lifts, footwear advice and short-term offloading
• Orthotics where mechanics drive the tendon load
• Targeted rehab progression for chronic, stubborn cases

Related services: Foot Pain · Orthotic Therapy