--- title: "Achilles Tendon Pain Treatment, Haslemere" description: "Physiotherapy in Haslemere for Achilles tendinopathy. Graded tendon loading rather than rest, with realistic timescales." canonical: "https://healthflex.co.uk/services/achilles-tendonitis" --- ![Posterior lower legs and heels with Achilles tendon highlighted red](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fachilles-tendon-posterior-lower-leg.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790608769893&w=3840&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Foot and ankle conditions # Achilles tendon pain £62–£72 30–45 mins [Book online](https://healthflex.connect.tm3app.com/book/physiotherapy) Achilles pain typically starts as stiffness in the tendon first thing in the morning or at the start of exercise, easing as you warm up and returning afterwards. The tendon may be thickened and tender to squeeze. It is usually a **tendinopathy rather than an inflammation**, which is why the older name tendonitis is gradually being replaced. If the problem were inflammation, rest and anti-inflammatories would fix it. **They do not, and that is the single most useful thing to understand about tendon pain.** ## Why loading is the treatment Tendons adapt to load and de-adapt without it. A tendon that hurts has usually been asked to do more than it was conditioned for, and the answer is a carefully graded programme that loads it enough to stimulate adaptation without provoking a flare. **Some discomfort during the exercises is expected and acceptable**, which is counterintuitive and is why tendon programmes need supervising rather than handing over on a sheet. Progress is measured in months. **Three to six is common**, and stopping when the pain eases is the usual reason it recurs. ## Managing it while you keep training Most runners do not need to stop entirely. Reducing volume, avoiding hills and speed work for a period, and keeping the loading programme going usually beats resting completely and then returning to the same mileage. ## Warning signs **A sudden sharp pain in the back of the ankle, often described as being kicked or hit, with difficulty pushing off or standing on tiptoe, may be a rupture** and needs urgent medical assessment rather than a physiotherapy appointment. If you have taken fluoroquinolone antibiotics recently, mention it, as they carry a small increased risk of tendon problems. [Book online](https://healthflex.connect.tm3app.com/book/physiotherapy) ## Frequently Asked Questions Should I rest my Achilles tendon? Not completely. Tendon pain is usually a tendinopathy rather than an inflammation, so rest and anti-inflammatories do not resolve it. Tendons adapt to load, so treatment is a carefully graded loading programme, and some discomfort during the exercises is expected. How long does Achilles tendon pain take to settle? Three to six months is common with a consistent loading programme. Stopping when the pain eases, rather than continuing until the tendon has adapted, is the usual reason it comes back. Can I keep running? Most people can, with adjustments. Reducing volume and avoiding hills and speed work for a period, while keeping the loading programme going, usually works better than stopping entirely and then returning to the same mileage. How do I know if I have ruptured it? A sudden sharp pain in the back of the ankle, often described as being kicked, with difficulty pushing off or standing on tiptoe, may be a rupture and needs urgent medical assessment rather than a physiotherapy appointment. [Book online](https://healthflex.connect.tm3app.com/book/physiotherapy) ## Available Team Members These team members perform this service - ![Martin Dyer, physiotherapist and director of Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Martin Dyer, physiotherapist and director of Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. He has swept back dark hair greying at the sides and a warm, closed mouth smile, and wears a pale pink striped shirt with a pink and blue striped tie. The background is a blurred garden of autumn shrubs and trees.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-martin-dyer-physiotherapist-director-haslemere-48x59.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790158917409&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Martin Dyer Physiotherapist and Director [View](/team-members/martin-dyer) - ![Anneke Webb, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Anneke Webb, physiotherapist at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has long straight fair hair and is smiling at the camera, wearing a white Healthflex Physical Therapy Centres polo shirt. Behind her, out of focus, are a green playing field, a wooden rail fence and autumn trees under a cloudy sky.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-anneke-webb-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x53.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790158550952&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Anneke Webb Physiotherapist [View](/team-members/anneke-webb) - ![Phillipa Frankland, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Phillipa Frankland, physiotherapist at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has long straight light brown hair and a wide, friendly smile, and wears a navy zip neck fleece. Behind her, out of focus, are a yellow green hedge and trees under a pale sky.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-phillipa-frankland-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x61.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790159136941&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Phillipa Frankland Physiotherapist [View](/team-members/phillipa-frankland) - ![Nick Thornhill, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Close head and shoulders portrait of Nick Thornhill, physiotherapist at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. He has short dark hair and a full dark beard flecked with grey, with a relaxed closed mouth smile, and wears a navy polo shirt. Behind him is soft green foliage under a pale sky.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2FNick%2520Thornhill-48x57.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790159610604&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Nick Thornhill Physiotherapist [View](/team-members/nick-thornhill) Show more team members - ![Theika Botterill, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Theika Botterill, physiotherapist specialising in sports and musculoskeletal care at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has brown hair tied back and a wide, beaming smile, and wears a pink Healthflex polo shirt. The background is a blurred autumn hedge under a pale sky.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-theika-botterill-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x60.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790159715633&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Theika Botterill Physiotherapist, sports and musculoskeletal [View](/team-members/theika-botterill) - ![Imogen Scott-Plumber, physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Imogen Scott-Plumber, physiotherapist specialising in sports injury and rehabilitation at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has fair hair tied back and a relaxed smile, and wears a navy polo shirt. Behind her is a dense green hedge, softly out of focus.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-imogen-scott-plumber-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x57.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790159848262&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Imogen Scott-Plumber Physiotherapist | Sports Injury & Rehabilitation | Performance [View](/team-members/imogen-scott-plumber) - ![Kathryn Lewis, neurological physiotherapist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Kathryn Lewis, physiotherapist specialising in adult neurological rehabilitation at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. She has shoulder length dark brown hair lit by sunshine and a broad smile, and wears a white Healthflex polo shirt. Behind her is dark green foliage, softly out of focus.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-kathryn-lewis-neurological-physiotherapist-haslemere-48x71.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790158869397&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Kathryn Lewis Physiotherapist, adult neurological rehabilitation [View](/team-members/kathryn-lewis) - ![Gareth Klepacz, podiatrist at Healthflex in Haslemere Description: Head and shoulders portrait of Gareth Klepacz, podiatrist specialising in clinical biomechanics at Healthflex, The Edge, Haslemere. He has short dark hair and a broad smile, and wears a navy and white checked button down shirt. Behind him, out of focus, are a hedge and green fields.](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fhealthflex-gareth-klepacz-podiatrist-haslemere-48x72.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a993819fabdf5583928bbf1%26v%3D1790158648129&w=96&q=75&dpl=dpl_FWxsgCyzDSRxWHosZK98qVgRxgBw) Gareth Klepacz Podiatrist, clinical biomechanics [View](/team-members/gareth-klepacz) ## Related Services Complete your experience with these services - Sports injury assessment and treatment £62–£72•30–45 mins [View](/services/sports-injury-assessment-and-treatment) - Running assessment and gait analysis £90•Up to 60 mins [View](/services/running-assessment-and-gait-analysis) - Strength and conditioning programmes £62–£72•30–45 mins [View](/services/strength-and-conditioning-programmes)