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.
Excellent site tyidosnns. Lots of useful info here. I am sending it to a few buddies ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thank you on your effort!
Undeniably believe that which you said. Your favorite justification seemed to be on the internet the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get annoyed while folks consider worries that they plainly don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the complete thing without having side effect , individuals can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks
This web site could be a walk-through for all of the details you wanted in regards to this and didn’t know who to question. Glimpse here, and you’ll definitely discover it.
I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was wonderful. I do not know who you might be but surely that you are going to a famous blogger in the event you are not already Cheers! xrumer
I believe this really is one of the most significant information for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general issues, The web internet site style is perfect, the articles is really excellent : D. Good job, cheers
This website is my breathing in, real amazing design and perfect content material .
Hi there, just became aware of your blog by means of Google, and discovered that it’s really informative. I’m going to watch out for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you continue this in future. Numerous folks is going to be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Hello there! Good post! Please inform us when all could see a follow up!
I simply could not depart your website prior to suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard information a person supply on your guests? Is gonna be again ceaselessly to inspect new posts