The tendon that runs down the back of your lower leg to your heel is your Achilles tendon. You use your Achilles tendon every time your walk, run, play sports or otherwise move your legs and feet. Overuse or pushing your tight calf muscles too hard can cause injury to the tendon, bringing with it pain and swelling.

The Achilles tendon connects your calf muscles to the biggest bone in your foot, enabling you to walk, run and adjust your footing according to the surface you are on. A pulled or stretched Achilles tendon can cause problems throughout your legs and spine as your body compensates for a dysfunctional lower leg.

Haglund’s deformity is a condition characterized by a bone deformity at the back of your heel and irritation of the related soft tissue. In some cases, this condition stems from abnormal tightness in your Achilles tendon, which runs from your calf muscles to your heel bone.

Even if you don’t have an exceptionally active lifestyle, your calf muscles still get quite the workout during a normal day. They become strong, and unless stretched regularly, tight, and prone to injuries.

Your posterior tibial tendon is in your lower leg, underneath your shin muscles. The tendon runs from slightly above your ankle to the inner arch of your foot. Overuse, like the repetitive movements of running or playing sports, can cause the posterior tibial tendon to become strained or ruptured.

Acupressure and reflexology are two alternative complementary therapies that systematically apply pressure to certain parts of the body to reduce aches and pains. Some pressure points are also purported to improve the function of other parts of the body.

Foot cramps are very painful muscle cramps. They can strike while you are moving or attack while you are sleeping. A foot cramp feels like the muscles and tendons in the bottom of your foot are pulled very tightly and the sharp pain cannot be ignored.