Achilles tendonitis is a common problem affecting the ankle joint. The Achilles tendon, the strip of tissue that connects the calf muscles to the heel, is easily palpable on the top of the heel. If this tissue becomes damaged or inflamed, then you will experience pain in the back of the ankle, sometimes even severely affecting your ability to move. In the most severe cases (when the Achilles tendon is very badly damaged), a rupture of the Achilles tendon may occur, and that will require surgery to fix. How it happens Achilles tendonitis usually occurs in people who have frequent tightness in their calf muscles. When the gastrocnemius and flounder muscles are tight, more pressure is placed on the Achilles tendon, which can trigger symptoms. Achilles tendonitis is also associated with excessive use of running and explosive movements in sports. How it feels The most common symptom is pain in the back of the heel or lower calf. The pain becomes worse in the morning because the patient usually sleeps with the back of their foot straight. When patients wake up and place their feet on the floor, their Achilles tendon shifts from being relaxed all night to being stretched, which creates pain. This pain can also be exacerbated by running or explosive movements, such as various forms of weight lifting and heel lifts. When the condition is severe, the patient may experience pain even while walking. How to fix it Physical therapy is the key. The key approach is to stretch the gastrocnemius muscle with the knee joint straight and the flounder muscle with the knee joint slightly flexed. Strength strengthening exercises, ultrasound therapy, and electrical stimulation can also be used in physical therapy. Anti-inflammatory medications can accelerate healing. Localized orthopedic treatment with a heel elevator can sometimes help to relax the Achilles tendon. A night splint that holds the ankle in its natural position (90 degrees) can help prevent tightness of the calf muscles. In some severe cases, walking may require the help of some devices to reduce the tension on the Achilles tendon. How to recover Patients can usually recover fully from Achilles tendonitis, but this can take a long time because the Achilles tendon is strained with every step of walking. A change in activity status is very important. Although most cases do not require a surgical solution, it may require the patient to return to his or her normal routine. How to prevent Achilles tendonitis 1.Warm-up Exercise Warm-up with low-intensity aerobic exercise before exercise. 2.Strengthening Strength Heavy-duty calf exercises allow the Achilles tendon to withstand greater force. 3.Body Strengthening Strengthening exercises can improve the movement level of the muscles, tendons and ligaments in the calf and ankle joints. 4, stretching exercises like the calf stretching exercises shown in the figure can improve the flexibility of the tendons. 5.Balance ability Perform some exercises to improve your body’s balance and exercise your body’s ability to feel.