But what is Achilles in our body really? How many problems does it cause to competitors, but also to ordinary people in everyday life? I will try to answer the questions related to the Achilles tendon, disturbing symptoms and ways of maintaining it in the best possible condition.

A little bit of anatomy

Achilles tendon, otherwise known as the heel tendon, is located in the lower part of the shin, commonly called the calf. Two hamstrings of the gastrocnemius muscle in about half the length of the shin go into the tendon band and continue downwards in the area of ​​1/3 of the shin, connecting with the tendon of the soleus muscle. Then, like a braid, they run up to the calcaneus, entwining it from the bottom where they form a joint trailer together with the plantar aponeurosis. It can be concluded that the spiral nature of the tendon fibres is designed to support elasticity and deformation of the tendon under load. The tendon is covered with a sheath composed of a fibrous tissue. It is also covered with the synovium that forms the necrosis. From the wall of the capsule to the tendon there runs the mesentery of the tendon, which brings blood vessels and nerves.

Why does it hurt?

We can often hear or feel common crackling, creaking around the Achilles tendon during passive foot movements. This is a symptom of overgrowth of the necrosis due to an inflammatory reaction often caused by excessive load. These symptoms may also be accompanied by swelling in the tendon and ankle region.

Front from the tendon there is the bursa of the Achilles tendon. It can also undergo inflammatory processes and cause pain to the front of the tendon, mainly during the plantar flexion (stepping on toes) in the ankle joint. It is usually important to differentiate this pain from the inflammation of the tendon sheath or the tendinopathy of the Achilles tendon. Inflammation of the bursa may be associated with a characteristic deformation within the back-top part of the calcaneus.

Studies have shown that the blood supply to the tendon mainly originates from the mesentery of the tendon. There are also tiny vessels going out from the bellies of the gastrocnemius muscle and distally from the vessels going out from the periosteum around the tendon attachment.  According to the conducted tests, the distribution of blood is evenly distributed along the entire tendon, with the exception of the area of ​​its attachment. Undoubtedly, with age, there is a decrease in collagen production and the so-called "ingrowth" of blood vessels into the Achilles tendon, causing a reduction in its elasticity and strength, or in other words, weakening it.

Do not underestimate the symptoms

You definitely have to listen to your body and see if you have any symptoms. Is there pain during the effort, after the effort. Do you feel stiffness in the area of ​​the Achilles tendon in the morning, while when you "walk it off" it is better. Any abnormalities in the form of swelling or skin lesions. Also people who have an incorrect calcaneal position, have undergone the haglunda-saver disease or have the so-called Haglund heel, or the popular "flat feet" predispose to lesions within the Achilles tendon.

Remember that Achilles which was broken is not a healthy one. Such a tendon must have given earlier symptoms, be weakened or even degenerated. In order to properly care for the condition of your Achilles, you must also strengthen the calf muscles using little interesting and pleasant strength exercises as well as take care of the proper ranges of mobility in the ankles and good flexibility of the calf muscles. You can get it by rolling, stretching or massaging.

Do not underestimate any symptoms and remember that Achilles tendonds work in every movement in a vertical position. You must take care of them.