I Have Achilles Tendinitis and Running Makes My Achilles Swollen

Your Achilles becomes swollen when you run because repeated push-off can aggravate an already irritated tendon and increase swelling around the area.

If you have Achilles tendinitis, you may notice the area around your Achilles becoming visibly fuller or puffy while you run or shortly afterward. Running puts the Achilles tendon through repeated work with every stride, so an already irritated tendon can become more swollen when you keep asking it to perform the same movement.

Swelling is part of the body's response to irritation, but it can also make the Achilles feel more restricted during movement. When the tendon becomes swollen, normal ankle movement may feel less comfortable, and continuing to run can keep aggravating the area instead of allowing the swelling to settle.

Repeated Push-Off Keeps Irritating Your Achilles

Every running stride asks your Achilles tendon to help push your body forward.

Your calf muscles and Achilles tendon work together during each push-off, and running repeats that action over and over. When Achilles tendinitis is already present, the tendon may have less tolerance for this repeated demand, so running can increase irritation and bring on more swelling around the tendon.

The Swelling Becomes More Noticeable As You Run

As the run continues, repeated use can make the Achilles area increasingly reactive.

You may start a run with only mild swelling and notice the area looks or feels more swollen later. Continued running gives the irritated tendon very little change in demand from one stride to the next, so the swelling can become more apparent as fatigue and repeated stress build during the activity.

Why Your Achilles Keeps Swelling During Running

Your Achilles has a hard time healing when blood flow and circulation are limited.

Tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues naturally receive less blood supply than many other parts of the body. Because of this, they often take longer to heal after repeated stress or injury, leaving you more vulnerable to lingering pain and a cycle of reinjury.

When circulation through the area remains limited, injured tissues have a harder time receiving the vital oxygen and nutrients they need to repair and heal. This can leave your Achilles feeling stiff, tight, weak, or painful during everyday movement and activity.

What Can Help Your Achilles Feel Better

Your Achilles starts feeling better when blood flow and circulation improve.

Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to promote healthy blood flow and circulation. Their medicinal properties help break up stagnant blood and fluids that remain trapped around injured tissues, interfering with circulation. As circulation improves, blood flows more freely through the area, allowing those tissues to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal properly.

Topical herbal remedies made with these Chinese herbs can help relieve pain while improving blood flow and circulation to injured tissues. The right product depends on your symptoms and whether you're in the acute or chronic stage of recovery.

If you have pain, swelling, inflammation, or bruising, Acute Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by increasing circulation and dispersing stagnant blood and fluids around the injured area to speed recovery. During the acute stage of healing, getting circulation moving early allows injured tissues to receive the fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients they need to repair and heal.

If your injured area is especially swollen, red, or warm to the touch after a recent injury or flare-up, Sinew Herbal Ice is also used to reduce swelling and inflammation while restoring normal circulation so you can quickly regain range of motion. While traditional ice is commonly used to reduce swelling, Sinew Herbal Ice acts as an ice alternative to reduce swelling and inflammation while also dispersing accumulated blood and fluids to speed the healing process.

If you no longer have swelling or inflammation, but still have pain, stiffness, weakness, or sensitivity in cold and damp weather, Chronic Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by strongly stimulating circulation and increasing blood supply to injured tendons and ligaments to promote their healing. This is especially important because tendons and ligaments naturally receive less blood supply, which is why chronic injuries can take longer to heal.

If you have residual pain and stiffness, or the area becomes more painful in cold weather, Sinew Injury Poultice is also used to significantly stimulate circulation to injured tendons and ligaments to further promote their healing. By strongly increasing circulation, it counteracts the reduced blood flow caused by cold weather that commonly aggravates chronic tendon and ligament injuries.

If you exercise, play sports, or do other strenuous activities, Sinew Sports Massage Oil warms and stimulates muscles for exertion and relieves muscle tightness and soreness after activity. Warming and preparing your muscles before activity can improve flexibility, enhance performance, and reduce the risk of injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may also find these commonly asked questions helpful.

Why does my Achilles swell when I run?

Running repeatedly stresses the Achilles tendon, which can increase irritation and make swelling more noticeable during or after activity.

Why does my Achilles swelling get worse during a run?

Continued running repeatedly works the irritated tendon, which can cause swelling to become more noticeable as the activity continues.

Can running make Achilles tendinitis swelling worse?

Yes. Continued running can increase stress on an irritated Achilles and contribute to more swelling around the tendon.

Should I keep running if my Achilles is swollen?

If running causes increasing Achilles swelling or pain, reducing the activity and having the problem evaluated can help prevent further aggravation.

Is Achilles swelling after running a sign of irritation?

Swelling after running can indicate that the Achilles has been irritated by the repeated demands of the activity.

The information provided here is intended to help you better understand your symptoms and recovery, but it is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Persistent, severe, or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.