The Achilles tendon, which runs down at the back of your lower leg, connects the calf muscles to your heel bone. The calf muscles and Achilles tendon play a huge role when you walk, jump, sprint, or climb.
Achilles Tendonitis vs. Achilles Tendinosis
Achilles tendonitis and Achilles tendinosis are the most common Achilles tendon injuries. The former has to do with inflammation of the tendon and is almost always short-lived in nature. When the inflammation is chronic, it could progress to Achilles tendinosis wherein microscopic tears and scar tissue form in the tendon, making it weaker and less stable.
Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis
Overuse is the most common cause of Achilles tendon injuries. Men and women who engage in work, sports, or activities that constantly stress the ankles have an increased risk of developing issues with their Achilles tendon. Achilles tendonitis is quite common among individuals who engage heavily in recreational sports on nights and weekends.
Pain, which is often accompanied with tenderness within the tendon, is the primary symptom of an Achilles tendon injury. Most patients refer to the pain as more severe upon rising in the morning or when they’re engaged in heavy physical activity.
Achilles tendon injury diagnosis normally occurs during a physical examination. Imaging tests, such as X-rays or MRI scans, may not be necessary.
Treatment Options for Achilles Tendon Injuries
Often a non-surgical treatment approach is initially employed for treating Achilles tendon injuries, including ice application, oral medications for pain, immobilization with a cast, night splints, and physical therapy. Surgery, which involves sewing the torn ends of the Achilles tendon, is recommended when the aforementioned non-surgical approaches fail to provide symptom relief.
For more information on Achilles tendon injuries, call Plancher Orthopedics at 212.876.5200!
New York Office
1160 Park Avenue (corner of 92nd Street)
New York, NY 10128
Phone: (212) 876-5200
Fax: (212) 876-4440
Connecticut Office
31 River Road, Suite 102 Cos Cob,
CT 06807
Phone: (203) 863-2003
Fax: (203) 863-2025
Joseph M. Ajdinovich, M.D.
Fellowship Year 2016-2017
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, Bonutti Clinic & HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital
Effingham, IL
Jeffrey T. Alwine, D.O.
Fellowship Year 2013-2014
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, Guthrie Corning Hospital, Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital, Guthrie Troy Community Hospital
Corning, New York / Troy, Pennsylvania
Shariff K. Bishai, M.S., D.O.
Fellowship Year 2006-2007
Post Fellowship: Partner, Associated Orthopedists of Detroit
St. Claire Shores, MI
Peter B. Blank, D.O.
Fellowship Year 2005-2006
Post Fellowship: Owner, New Jersey Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine
Basking Ridge, NJ
David B. Dickerson, M.D.
Fellowship Year 2008-2009
Post Fellowship: Owner, Performance Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
Shrewsbury / Tom’s River, New Jersey
Albert S.M. Dunn, D.O.
Fellowship Year 2013-2014
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, Precision Orthopaedic Specialties, Inc.
Chardon, Ohio
Eric D. Fornari MD
Pediatric Sports Medicine
Montefiore Medical Center | 3400 Bainbridge Avenue, 6th Floor, Bronx, NY 10467
Monet A. France, M.D.
Fellowship Year 2012-2013
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, CareMount Medical
Fishkill, New York
Mary Ann Gardner, M.D., Lieutenant Commander, Medical Corp, USNR
Fellowship Year 2007-2008
Post Fellowship: Department of Surgery at James A. Haley Veteran’s Hospital
Tampa, Florida
Michael J. Kaplan, MD
Advanced Knee Reconstruction and Sports Medicine
Active Orthopaedics P.C. | 1579 Straits Turnpike, Middlebury, CT 06762
Harish Kempegowda, M.D.
Fellowship Year: 2018-2019
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, Horizon Health
Paris, Illinois
Bradley J. Lawson, M.D.
Fellowship Year 2010-2011
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, Advanced Orthopedics of Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Sheryl L. Lipnick, D.O.
Fellowship Year 2008-2009
Post Fellowship: Physician, The Center for Sports Orthopaedics, S.C
Hoffman Estates / Carol Stream, IL
Timothy A. Luke, M.D.
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, Minimally Invasive Spine
Fellowship Year 2003-2004
Phoenix, Arizona
Marc J. Philippon, MD
Complex & Advanced Hip Arthroscopic Procedures
Steadman Clinic / Steadman Surgical Skills Lab | 181 West Meadow Drive, Suite 400, Vail, CO 81657
Pedro A. Piza, M.D.
Post Fellowship: Physician, Tenet Florida Physician Services
Fellowship Year 2004-2005
Delray Beach / Boca Raton, Florida
Kevin D. Plancher, MD, MPH
Fellowship Director – Knee & Shoulder Reconstruction, Sports Medicine, and Arthroplasty
Plancher Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine | 1160 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10128
Bioskills Cadaver Lab | 345 East 37th Street, Suite 312, NY, NY 10016
Alberto R. Rivera-Rosado, M.D.
Fellowship Year 2009-2010
Post Fellowship: Owner, Rivera Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Coamo, Puerto Rico
William I. Sterett, MD
Knee & Shoulder Reconstruction, Sports Medicine, Arthroplasty, and Acute Trauma
Vail Summit Orthopaedics | 108 S Frontage Rd W, Vail, CO 81657
William W. Stewart, M.D.
Fellowship Year 2012-2013
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mercy Clinic Orthopedic Surgery
Edmond, Oklahoma
Francesca M. Swartz, D.O.
Fellowship Year 2010-2011
Post Fellowship: Orthopedic Surgeon, Orthopedic Specialists of SW Florida
Fort Meyers, Florida
Seth R. Miller, MD
Shoulder Reconstruction and Sports Medicine
Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists (ONS) / 6 Greenwich Office Park, Greenwich, CT 06831
Paul M. Sethi, MD
Knee & Shoulder Reconstruction, Sports Medicine, and Shoulder Arthroplasty
Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists (ONS) / 6 Greenwich Office Park, Greenwich, CT 06831
William D. Murrell, MD
Fellowship Year 2021-2022
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, Gardner Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine/Institute for Mobility and Longevity
Ft. Meyers, FL
Tyler J. Brolin MD
Complex Shoulder Arthroplasty & Reconstruction, and Sports Medicine
Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics / 1400 S. Germantown Road, Germantown, TN 38138
Thomas B. Evely, DO
Fellowship Year: 2020-2021
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, University of Alabama (UAB);
Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Heersink School of Medicine
Birmingham, Alabama
Clifford Voigt, MD
Fellowship Year 2021-2022
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Brooklyn, NY
Karthikeyan Chinnakkannu, MD
Fellowship Year: 2020-2021
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, Bronx Care Health System
Bronx, New York
Erik Carlson, MD
Shoulder Reconstruction, and Sports Medicine
Active Orthopaedics P.C. / 1579 Straits Turnpike, Middlebury, CT 06762
Marc S. Kowalsky, MD
Knee & Shoulder Reconstruction, Sports Medicine
Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists (ONS) / 6 Greenwich Office Park, Greenwich, CT 06831
Rachel M. Frank, MD
Sports Medicine and Cartilage Regeneration
CU Sports Medicine Center / 2000 S. Colorado Blvd., The Colorado Center Tower One, Suite 4500, Denver, CO 80222
CU Sports Medicine & Performance Center / 2150 Stadium Drive, Boulder, CO 80309
Orthopedics-Anschutz / 1635 Aurora Court, 4th Floor, Aurora, CO 80045
Max N. Seiter, MD
Shoulder, Hip and Knee Reconstruction, Sports Medicine, and Acute Trauma
Vail Summit Orthopaedics / 108 S Frontage Rd W, Vail, CO 81657
Demetris Delos, MD
Knee & Shoulder Reconstruction, and Sports Medicine
Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists (ONS) / 6 Greenwich Office Park, Greenwich, CT 06831
Armando F. Vidal, MD
Knee & Shoulder Reconstruction, Sports Medicine, and Acute Trauma
The Steadman Clinic / 181 West Meadow Drive, Suite 400, Vail, CO 81657
Lauren M. Fabian, MD
Shoulder, Knee & Elbow Reconstruction and Sports Medicine
Orthopaedic Specialty Group (OSG) / 305 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield, CT 06825 and 762 River Road, Shelton, CT 06484
R. Tim Greene, MD
Complex Hip Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine
Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists (ONS) / 6 Greenwich Office Park, Greenwich, CT 06831
Peter J. Millett, MD, MSc
Knee & Shoulder Reconstruction, Shoulder Arthroplasty, and Sports Medicine
The Steadman Clinic / 181 West Meadow Drive, Suite 400, Vail, CO 81657
Jaya Shanmugam, M.D.
Fellowship Year: 2019-2020
Post Fellowship: Orthopaedic Surgeon, Pratt Regional Medical Center
Pratt, Kansas