Overuse or repeated movements during sports,
work, or other activities. In sports, a change in how long, intensely, or often
you exercise can cause microtears in
the tendon. These tears are unable to heal quickly and will eventually cause pain.
A change in your environment, such as going from a flat
surface to a hill or from a dirt road to a paved road, can also cause these tears.
Injury from repeated push-offs or a stop-and-go motion. These injuries are common in
such activities as running, basketball, tennis, or ballet dancing.
Sudden, forceful motion that stresses the calf
muscle. This can happen during an intense athletic activity or even during simple
running or jumping, especially in middle-aged adults. A
rupture most often occurs in sports such as
basketball, racquet sports (including tennis), soccer, and softball.
Overstretching the tendon during any activity
when the tendon is already damaged because of Achilles tendinopathy or another