The achilles tendon connects the calf muscle at the back of the lower leg to the heel bone. When this tendon is inflamed the patient will feel tenderness of the tendon in and around the heel, swelling around the tendon and stiffness and tightening of the lower leg. 

The inflammation of this thick strong tendon can be caused by a whole awray of causes such as: 

• Increase in activity leading to over use of the tendon

• Insufficient or incorrect warm up procedure prior to exercise 

• Not allowing enough recovery time between activities 

• Misalingment 

• Change of footwear/improper footware

• Change of surface that activitiy takes place on 
• Tight or weak calf muscles