Achilles Tendinopathy · Liverpool City Centre
Achilles Tendinopathy Physiotherapist Liverpool
Pain and stiffness in the Achilles tendon that warms up then aches afterwards. It is one of the most common running injuries, and it needs progressive loading, not rest, to recover properly.
- Treat Achilles pain at the cause
- Loading-led tendon rehab
- Appointments 8am to 8pm
£75 new patient assessment
Achilles pain that will not settle?
Achilles tendinopathy is pain and thickening of the tendon at the back of the ankle, usually from overload. The classic pattern is stiffness and pain in the morning and at the start of activity, which warms up, then aches afterwards. Rest it and it feels better, until you run again.
- Morning stiffness and pain in the Achilles first thing
- Warms up then aches better during activity, sore afterwards and the next day
- Tender or thickened tendon a few centimetres above the heel, or at the heel itself
- Worse with hills and speed or a spike in running volume
- Comes back when you return to running after resting
- Stubborn for months because rest alone does not rebuild the tendon
Causes and types
Types and causes of Achilles tendinopathy
Getting the specific cause right is what makes treatment work. We assess and treat:
Mid-portion tendinopathy
Pain and thickening in the middle of the tendon, the most common type.
Insertional tendinopathy
Pain right at the heel where the tendon attaches, treated slightly differently.
Training load spikes
A sudden increase in running volume, hills, or speed work.
Calf weakness
Insufficient calf strength and capacity to handle the load.
Reduced ankle mobility
Stiffness shifting load onto the tendon.
Footwear changes
Drop, support, or surface changes altering tendon load.
Our approach
How we treat Achilles tendinopathy
Accurate diagnosis
We confirm the type, mid-portion or insertional, since the loading approach differs, and rule out other causes of heel pain.
Progressive loading
A structured calf and tendon loading programme is the proven foundation of recovery, calming pain while rebuilding capacity.
Fix the cause
Training load, calf strength, ankle mobility, and footwear, so the tendon holds up when you return to running.
Stubborn cases
Shockwave for chronic tendons
For Achilles tendinopathy that has stalled despite loading, shockwave therapy can stimulate repair in the tendon. We use it alongside your loading programme.
Stimulates repair
Shockwave promotes blood flow and collagen repair in chronic tendons.
Alongside loading
Used with progressive loading, the proven foundation of tendon rehab.
3 to 6 sessions
Most patients improve within a short course alongside their exercises.
Why us
Why FM Physio for Achilles pain in Liverpool
Loading-led tendon rehab
Right type, right plan
Shockwave for stubborn cases
Built for runners
No referral needed
Our therapists
Top rated achilles tendinopathy physio Liverpool
20+ years experience
All our sports therapists and physiotherapists are handpicked as the best in the industry.
300+ 5-star reviews
We do not bang our own drum, our clients do it for us.
HCPC and CSP registered
Fully qualified, regulated physiotherapists. You are always in safe, professional hands.
Achilles Tendinopathy FAQs
Should I rest my Achilles?
Complete rest is one of the worst things for tendinopathy. The tendon needs progressive loading to rebuild. We usually modify your running rather than stopping it, and load the tendon deliberately, which is what actually fixes it.
How long does Achilles tendinopathy take?
Caught early, often 6 to 12 weeks of loading. Long-standing cases take longer and may benefit from shockwave. Consistency with the loading programme is the biggest factor.
Can I keep running?
Often yes, in modified form. We adjust volume, hills, and speed while loading the tendon. Some acute cases need a short reduction first, and we will tell you which applies to you.
What is the difference between mid-portion and insertional?
Mid-portion is in the body of the tendon a few centimetres above the heel. Insertional is right where it attaches to the heel bone. They are loaded differently, so getting the diagnosis right matters.
What are your prices?
A new patient assessment is £75 for 45 minutes, including a full assessment, hands-on treatment, and a clear plan.
Related services and pages
These related pages may help:
Fix your Achilles properly
Stop the cycle of rest and re-flare. Book an Achilles assessment and get a real loading plan from a Liverpool specialist.
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