All tendons have a limited self-healing capacity. However, this depends on a large number of factors, primarily the extent of the injury, the type of tendon, the blood supply to the tendon, and the location of the tendon. In the case of the Achilles tendon, the blood supply is somewhat atypical, and this is one reason why the tendon can heal itself only to a limited extent, that too not always. When the damage is microscopic, there is the possibility of the Achilles healing itself. Adequate amounts of rest to the injured area, coupled with limited exercising, are usually the solution for such tears. However, as mentioned earlier, the atypical blood flow can be a limiting factor to self healing. Usually, a bruised body part needs proper circulation to heal. This may not be possible in the case of the Achilles tendon. A minor injury to this specific tendon can be handled by rest, symptomatic management, and physiotherapy, i.e., exercising of the injured part. However, that does not take care of the rest of the tendon, and can only be a stop-gap solution. In the case of Achilles tendon injuries, it is always better to look at long-term solutions, such as surgery, which provide numerous benefits over non surgical measures, including an earlier return to normalcy.
