ACHILLES HEEL: ORIGIN AND MEANING 

“Achilles heel” is an annoying inflammation of the tendon that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone, and this is also known as the “Achilles tendonitis”. 

Beyond indicating the weakness of a person, the “Achilles' heel” is a painful condition of the foot that affects the heel. 

Before considering the reasons of the causes of inflammation and their treatment, it's interesting to remember why this pathology bears the name of the greek hero Achilles. 

The legend of Achilles: when he was a child he was dipped into the river Styx by his mother Thetis in order to make him invulnerable, unfortunately his heel wasn't covered by the water and this part of his body became his weakness. Later, In the final battle of the Trojan War, Achilles was shot in his left heel with a poisoned arrow, which finally killed him. 

Usually, the inflammation occurs as a result of an injury caused by an effort during sports activities, it is due to : stress of the tendon and intense physical workouts. 

To avoid the “Achilles heel” is appropriate to start an effective prevention strategy :

-The advice is to practice a good warm up before exercise. 

-You need to stretch every day, especially in the morning, before and after sport. 

-Stretching is very important for the elongation of muscles, the “Achilles tendon” becomes more flexible. 

- Gradually increasing the intensity of a workout 

- Wearing the correct shoes 

The “Achilles heel” can progress and become a degenerative disorder called “Achilles tendinosis”, the structure of the tendon changes: there's a risk of serious injuries and they usually require surgery to repair the damaged tendon. 

The most frequent symptom of Achilles tendonitis is pain, especially after a race or other kind of activity. 

The pain is sometimes accompanied by a slight swelling of the tendon and crunches when you touch or move the tendon.

How is possible to treat the “Achilles heel”?

The steps are simple, but - to be truly effective - you need patience and diligence. 

Doctor's advice to avoid exercises for several days. 

The best way to cure this kind of problem is to rest, together with the use of creams made with Arnica, Harpagophytum and Ribes. When you feel the pain, to reduce swelling due to inflammation, apply a bag of ice over a thin towel to the affected area for 20 minutes. 

To prevent Achilles tendonitis or tendonosis : Wearing proper shoes for the foot type, this is very important in preventing recurrence of the condition.