The Achilles tendon is the strong rope-like structure that ties your calf muscles to your heel bone. Any activity you indulge in, whether it is walking or sprinting, puts it under stress. It is one of the most aggravated tendons in the body since it is always in demand.

When you are sleeping, your foot is normally pointed down. This makes the Achilles tendon slightly shorter. You spend several hours in that state. When you stand up in the morning, any pre-existing severity of irritation or tightness may increase, especially when you stretch it more.

So, why does your Achilles tendon hurt in the morning? Here are the most frequent factors.

Achilles Tendinitis

This is the most typical cause of pain at the back of the ankle. Achilles tendinitis occurs when the tendon is inflamed as a result of repetitive stress. This most commonly arises in runners and other active individuals following periods of sudden volume or intensity in training.

Tiny microtears develop in the tendon fibers. When you rest, the tendon becomes rigid overnight because your body is attempting to repair those minor damages. That is why the initial movements after you wake up may be very sharp or tense.

It is advisable to seek Achilles Tendon pain treatment Manassas, VA when this morning discomfort becomes a daily struggle.

Achilles Tendinosis

Tendinitis is associated with inflammation, whereas tendinosis is a degenerative condition of the tendon and is more long-term. It occurs when the tendon fails to heal from its damage due to repeated strain. The collagen fibers in the tendon lose their orderly arrangement, get thicker, and become non-elastic.

This persistent version of the pain in the Achilles can lead to aching stiffness in the mornings due to the loss of some of the tendons’ natural flexibility. The feeling normally resolves with light movement as the fibers get warmer.

Stiff calf muscles

Stiffness in your calf muscles will cause tightness in your Achilles tendon. This might be due to:

• The genetic factor
• Wearing high-heeled shoes
• Sitting for long hours
• Ignoring the normal stretching.

Those tight muscles get even shorter when you are asleep. In the morning, your tendons must take on an increasing portion of the stretch and the weight. Hence, you get that searing, wake-up pain.

Plantar fasciitis connection

In some cases, Achilles pain may be accompanied by plantar fasciitis. This is inflammation along the thick band of tissue at the bottom of your foot. Both of these are associated. The plantar fascia and Achilles tendon are components of the same continuous system at the back of the leg and the foot.

When the plantar fascia is aggravated, it may change how you walk and transfer the additional load to the Achilles tendon, particularly following resting stages. This results in stiffness in the heel and the tendon in the morning.

Haglund deformity

This is an enlargement of the bone at the back of the heel. It can also irritate the Achilles tendon, particularly when wearing firm-heeled shoes with a rigid heel counter or back.

Such continuous rubbing may lead to swelling and irritation on the tendon at the point of attachment to the heel. The tendon shortens a little overnight, and then the first morning steps stretch across the inflamed point, causing the pain.

Insertional Achilles pain

Not every Achilles tenderness occurs at the center of the tendon. The irritation can be where the tendon attaches to the heel bone. It is usually referred to as insertional Achilles tendinopathy.

The pain in the morning can be more confined to the very back or bottom half of the heel. It is generally worsened by:

• Uphill walking
• Certain footwear
• Movement that causes the foot to collapse into a sort of point-toe stance.

Old injuries or scar tissue

A previous ankle sprain, calf strain, or partial tear of the Achilles can result in scar tissue. This tissue is less elastic compared to healthy tendon fibers. Hence, it does not stretch with ease. Even the slightest movement can exacerbate past injuries. At this point, engaging the Mountain Spring podiatry experts is advisable.

Overtraining and sudden changes in activities

Your Achilles tendon is good, but it requires time to adjust to new requirements. Plunging into high-dose workouts, such as:

• Doubling your running miles
• Introducing hilly sprints
• Multiple hours of basketball on the weekend

…Overloads the tendon more rapidly than its ability to regenerate.

The corresponding reaction of the tendon is to become inflamed or develop microtears. Tendons receive less blood than muscles, so healing is slow. You may not experience pain during the process itself, but you wake up sore the next morning.

The takeaway

Experiencing Achilles pain in the morning is not by chance. It is normally caused by the tightening of tendons overnight, plus minor underlying causes mentioned above. You can visit a professional podiatrist to diagnose the actual cause of your Achilles tendon pain.