What are the treatment options for Achilles tendinitis?

Achilles tendinitis is irritation and altered load tolerance in the tendon connecting the calf muscles to the heel. A clinician considers where the pain sits, how long it has been present, your walking pattern, footwear, work demands and sporting goals. Reducing aggravating hills, sprinting or jumping can calm symptoms while the tendon is gradually exposed to manageable load.

Physiotherapy can assess movement and build a staged plan. Strength work often progresses from controlled calf loading to exercises that resemble your normal activities. Custom orthotics may alter foot support when alignment or pressure contributes to strain. Shockwave therapy may be discussed when symptoms remain troublesome despite a structured rehabilitation plan.

Arrange an assessment if heel pain is limiting walking, exercise or work. Keep moving within tolerable limits, but avoid repeatedly testing painful push-off. Use the exercises and load progression provided by your physiotherapist rather than increasing resistance suddenly. Review shoes and training surfaces, and record which activities trigger symptoms so the plan can be adjusted.

Seek urgent assessment after a sudden snap, a sharp pop, a visible gap, rapid swelling or an abrupt inability to push off or stand on tiptoe. These features can indicate a tendon tear rather than routine tendinitis. New redness, warmth, fever, marked swelling or pain after a significant injury also needs prompt medical review.

Which activities should I modify, and what level of discomfort is acceptable during exercise? Would physiotherapy or custom orthotics address my movement pattern? When might shockwave therapy be appropriate, and what signs would suggest a tendon tear?