Achilles tendon injuries are common in people who do things where they quickly speed up, slow down, or pivot, such as:
- Running
- Gymnastics
- Dance
- Football
- Baseball
- Softball
- Basketball
- Tennis
- Volleyball
These injuries tend to happen when you start moving suddenly as you push off and lift your foot rather than when you land. For instance, a sprinter might get one at the start of a race as he surges off the starting block. The abrupt action can be too much for the tendon to handle. Men over 30 are particularly prone to Achilles tendon injuries.
These things also can make you more likely to have this kind of injury:
- You wear high heels, which can stress the tendon.
- You have “flat feet,” also called fallen arches. This means that when you take a step, the impact causes the arch of your foot to collapse, stretching the muscles and tendons.
- Your leg muscles or tendons are too tight.
- You take medicines called glucocorticoids or antibiotics called fluoroquinolones.