Achilles Tendon Rupture: An Athlete’s Achilles’ Heel
Your Achilles tendon serves to connect your heel bone to your calf muscle and plays an important role in many of your daily motions: walking, jumping, running all depend on a healthy and functioning Achilles tendon. The tendon is vulnerable to injury, most commonly a rupturing or tearing of the tendon.
What Can Cause An Achilles Tendon To Rupture?
Certain things can put you at risk for experiencing an Achilles tendon rupture. Recreational athletes are particularly more susceptible to the injury, with men being five times more likely than women to experience it. Although the tear can result from a forceful trauma to the back of the heel, it is most often caused by a sudden flexing of the ankle, as can happen during sports play. This same motion can occur as a result of a trip, fall or jump. Below are some ways you can lessen your risk of experiencing a ruptured Achilles tendon.
- Stretching and strengthening calf muscles helps relieve the strain on the Achilles tendon and increase its range of motion. A strong Achilles tendon is nothing without strong calf muscles to back it!
- As always, be careful of where and what surfaces you are running on. Smooth running surfaces are the key to safety.
- Beware of the “weekend warrior effect” which is commonly seen as a cause of Achilles tendon injuries – i.e. when usually sedentary individuals suddenly place undue stress on the tendon during “pick up” sports or other rare recreational activity.
Treatment of Achilles Tendon Rupture
An Achilles tendon rupture will present itself as a sudden, stabbing pain in the back of the ankle with difficulty walking after the injury. There may be swelling, and a gap that can be felt just above the heel. Your doctor may have you lie down and try to engage your calf muscle; if your foot doesn’t flex automatically it’s assumed your tendon has ruptured. Treatments for a ruptured tendon include:
- Surgery that stitches the tendon back together.
- Wearing a cast and allowing your tendon to heal back together on its own over time.
The specific treatment selected depends on many factors, such as age, usual activity level, and associated medical conditions. If you suspect an Achilles tendon injury, call Matthew Boes M.D. early so that appropriate evaluation and treatment may be instituted.
Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your website and in accession capital to assert that I acquire in fact enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently fast.
Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it is really informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll be grateful if you continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
I’m still learning from you, while I’m trying to achieve my goals. I certainly love reading everything that is written on your site.Keep the information coming. I liked it!
I simply want to say I am new to blogs and really loved your web-site. Likely I’m going to bookmark your site . You actually have amazing stories. Kudos for revealing your web-site.
I just want to tell you that I am very new to blogging and site-building and definitely loved this website. More than likely I’m planning to bookmark your website . You amazingly come with excellent article content. Thanks for sharing with us your web site.
Our communities really need to deal with this.
I believe this web site has some really wonderful info for everyone : D.
Hi my family member! I want to say that this article is amazing, great written and include approximately all important infos. I’d like to see more posts like this .
It is the best time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I want to suggest you few interesting things or tips. Perhaps you can write next articles referring to this article. I wish to read more things about it!
I wanted to jot down a small word so as to appreciate you for some of the nice points you are giving out on this website. My time intensive internet lookup has at the end been recognized with reasonable facts to write about with my friends and family. I would claim that we site visitors are very fortunate to live in a really good community with many lovely people with beneficial techniques. I feel somewhat privileged to have used your entire webpage and look forward to really more fun moments reading here. Thank you again for everything.
Most reliable human being messages, nicely toasts. are already provided gradually during the entire wedding celebration and therefore are anticipated to be quite laid back, humorous and as well as new all at once. very best man speech
I just want to mention I’m beginner to blogging and site-building and actually savored your web-site. Most likely I’m likely to bookmark your website . You certainly have amazing writings. Bless you for revealing your webpage.
I simply want to say I am newbie to blogs and seriously loved your web site. Almost certainly I’m planning to bookmark your blog post . You surely come with awesome article content. Thank you for sharing with us your blog.
Hi there it’s me, I am also visiting this web page regularly, this site is in fact good and the visitors are in fact sharing pleasant thoughts.|
Somebody essentially help to make severely posts I would state. This is the very first time I frequented your web page and so far? I surprised with the analysis you made to make this actual publish incredible. Wonderful process!
Whats Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It absolutely helpful and it has aided me out loads. I’m hoping to contribute & help different users like its aided me. Good job.
I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thank you again
There is clearly a lot to know about this. I consider you made various nice points in features also.