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Injuries to the Achilles Tendon

The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon, and it takes the most stress. Located at the back of the lower leg, the Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the calcaneous, or heel bone. This location makes the Achilles tendon especially susceptible to injury during sporting activities due to pivoting and other pressures exerted on it.

There are two types of injury to which the Achilles tendon is particularly susceptible:

First is overuse inflammation, known as Achilles tendonitis.

#2 The Achilles tendon can be torn during strenuous activity.

The Specifics of Achilles Tendonitis

If you suddenly increase the level or intensity of your workout, or if you come back full-force after a long break, you are likely to experience Achilles tendonitis. For this reason, it is very important to add strenuous activities slowly and carefully and to work back up to your top performance gradually after a long break in training.

When you have Achilles tendonitis, you may feel mild pain immediately after exercising that becomes worse and worse with time. Several hours after your workout, you may experience severe pain. After you have rested, you may experience swelling, tenderness and stiffness that may subside somewhat with movement.

If the Achilles tendon is torn, it may be possible to repair it surgically. Tears and toughened, fibrous tissues may be removed with surgery. Rehabilitation to prevent weakness in the ankle will play a part in recovery.

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More Information About A Torn Achilles Tendon

You may overstretch your Achilles tendon during vigorous activity. This often happens during sports. You may actually hear a crack or a snap when the injury occurs. The tear is usually located just above the calcaneous (heel bone). It may be complete or partial.

When you tear your Achilles tendon, you may not be able to bend your foot downward or walk in a normal way. A torn Achilles tendon is very painful, and you will probably experience a lot of swelling.

When you experience a complete rupture, you will usually need surgery. Following your surgery, you will probably be required to wear a walking cast or boot for about 3 months to hold the ankle stable.

Although it is possible to treat torn ligaments non-surgically with a below-knee cast, this is not recommended. It takes longer for the ends of the torn tendon to heal naturally, and there is more likelihood that the tendon will experience damage in the future.

With surgery, there is a much better chance of recovering fully. This is why athletes prefer to have the surgery. It allows them to return to their former level of activity with confidence after an Achilles tendon injury.

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