Achilles Tendon Rupture Causes, Symptoms And Treatment
Achilles (uh-KILL-eez) tendon rupture is an injury that affects the back of your lower leg. It mostly occurs in individuals enjoying recreational sports, but it can happen to anybody.
The Achilles tendon is a strong fibrous cord which joins the nerves at the back of your calf to a heel bone. Should you overstretch your Achilles tendon, it may tear (rupture) entirely or just partly.
In case your Achilles tendon ruptures, you may hear a pop, then followed by an immediate sharp pain at the back of your ankle and lower leg that’s very likely to influence your ability to walk correctly. Surgery can be performed to fix the rupture. For a lot of, nevertheless, nonsurgical therapy works too.
Achilles Tendon Symptoms
Although it’s possible to have no signs or symptoms of an Achilles tendon rupture, most people have:
- The feeling of having been kicked in the calf
- Pain, possibly severe, and swelling near the heel
- An inability to bend the foot downward or “push off” the injured leg when walking
- An inability to stand on the toes on the injured leg
- A popping or snapping sound when the injury occurs
Causes
Your Achilles tendon makes it possible to point down your foot, rise on your feet and push your foot as you walk. You rely on it almost every time you walk and move your foot.
Rupture usually occurs from the section of this thoracic located within 2 1/2 inches (approximately 6 centimeters) of the point at which it attaches to the heel bone. This section may be more likely to rupture because blood circulation is bad, but which can also impair its capacity to cure.
Ruptures frequently are brought on by a sudden gain in the stress in your Achilles tendon. Frequent examples include:
- Increasing the intensity of sports participation, especially in sports that involve jumping
- Falling from a height
- Stepping into a hole
Prevention
- Stretch and strengthen calf muscles.
- Vary your exercises.
- Choose running surfaces carefully.
- Increase training intensity slowly.
Treatment
The remedy for a ruptured Achilles tendon often is dependent upon your age, activity level and the seriousness of your injury. Generally, younger and more energetic individuals, especially athletes, are inclined to choose an operation to fix a totally ruptured Achilles tendon, whereas elderly folks are more inclined to go for nonsurgical therapy.
Recent research, however, has demonstrated the quite equal effectiveness of the nonsurgical and surgical management.
