Did you know that there are more than 250,000 Achilles tendon injuries in the United States each year? Of these injuries, almost 25% require some kind of medical intervention to heal, and a fully ruptured tendon requires surgery. Most other injuries can be treated conservatively and will resolve without surgery.
The most poorly understood Achilles tendon injury is actually not an injury of the tendon, but an inflammation of the bursa sac that separates the tendon insertion on the heel bone from the back of your ankle. The fluid in the bursa actually allows the tendon to move smoothly over the bone. When the bursa sac becomes irritated from frequent or abnormal movement, it becomes inflamed and bursitis can set in.
Achilles bursitis, also known as retrocalcaneal bursitis, is a common overuse injury in runners, hockey players, football player and many other athletes. Improper shoe gear and too much, too soon, too fast syndrome are usually the cause of this pain in the heel. It can also be seen in non-athletes who wear poor shoe gear or low cut shoes. Often it is seen in people with rigid, high arched feet.
Bursitis is a painful swelling that occurs in the back of the heel just deep to the Achilles tendon insertion on the heel bone. This inflammation makes it painful to squat, lunge or run uphill. Many shoes press on this area and make the pain worse. Even running on uneven or soft surfaces can increase the inflammation.
First line therapy for Achilles bursitis is:
- Heel lifts or heel cups
- Gentle stretching
Many patients require physical therapy and functional foot orthotics for complete relief of symptoms. Severe cases my even require a period of non-weight bearing casting or bracing prior to physical therapy in order to decrease the inflammation of the bursa. Chronic cases may even require more invasive therapy with extra corporeal shock wave therapy or injection of platelet rich plasma to jump start the healing process. Surgery is rarely needed unless bursitis is ignored for a significant period of time.
Long standing Achilles bursitis can cause significant difficulty in ankle movement and often a spur will form within the insertion of the tendon. Left untreated, this can eventually cause a rupture of the Achilles tendon at the insertion and lead to life long disability. If you are experiencing painful swelling in the back of your ankle, seek the help of your podiatrist early, so you can get back to running quickly and avoid any long term effects of this chronic inflammatory syndrome.