According to Greek mythology, the
Greek hero Achilles’ mother dipped him in the River Styx as a baby to make him immortal. As an adult, he was mortally wounded in battle
from an arrow to… the heel- which is where she held onto him as an infant to
dip him into the river.
The Achilles tendon was named after
Achilles. This tendon connects the calf
muscles at the back of the lower leg to the heel bone. It is the strongest, most powerful tendon in
the body.
The tendon transmits energy from the
muscles to the joints and bones. Any
movement made- such as running, standing
up on toes, walking, sprinting - flexes the calf muscles (the gastrocnemius and
soleus muscles) and makes them contract. This pulls the Achilles tendon upward. The tendon is a white fibrous cord, like an
elastic band. If it gets injured, scar tissue begins to replace the elasticity of the fibers.
Factors that contribute to the onset
of Achilles tendon injury are –
-Rapid increase in the speed of a
running regimen -Intense hill or stair running –Jumps, sudden starts and stops -Exercising
without warming up- Having flat arches that put strain on the tendon and that
are not supported by the proper shoes
Pain develops gradually and worsens
over time. The pain becomes more severe
after sprinting or stair climbing, after partaking in sports activities. You can actually hear a crackling sound when
you touch or move the tendon.
Treat with- ice, heel pads,
anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen, cold compression
therapy, ultrasound therapy, and blood-flow stimulation therapy. (The Achilles
tendon is one of the slowest to heal due to improper blood flow to the tendon
and slow re-generation of cells.) It is best to consult a health care
professional early on for quick recovery.