Ruptured Achilles Tendon

The Achilles tendon is a band of fibrous tissue located at the back of the lower portion of the leg. It is the largest tendon present in our body and it joins the calf muscles to the heel bone. It facilitates many of our movements like walking, running, jumping, rising on the toes, etc. There are two different types of ruptured Achilles tendon. One is partial rupture and the other is total rupture.

Causes
The Achilles tendon can get ruptured when it becomes weak and thin. This can happen due to aging, lack of use, diseases like arthritis and diabetes, and side effects of certain medicines. Middle aged and elderly people, who are into recreational athletics, are prone to this kind of injury. Sports activities like basketball, tennis, badminton involves a lot of jumping and running, and can cause a rupture in the Achilles tendon. Falling from a height or stumbling into a hole are the other conditions that overstretch the tendons and lead to this kind of injury.

Symptoms
The symptoms of partial as well as completely ruptured Achilles tendon are the same. The only difference is that the severity of the symptoms is comparatively less in case of a partial tear. The symptoms start showing up as soon as one gets the injury. Among them, the most commonly observed symptoms are as follows:

• Sudden sharp pain at the back of the leg, particularly around the ankle area.
• Snapping sound or popping sound is felt soon after the injury.
• The pain is often accompanied by a lot of swelling in the area and as a result, it tends to become stiff.
• When the area is touched, one can sense a gap or depression in the region just above the heel bone.
• Normal walking or standing on a tiptoe becomes a severely painful task.
• Bruising can also occur due the injury.

Treatment
The treatment for a rupture in the Achilles tendon should start immediately after the injury is noticed. The sooner the problem is treated, the better are the chances of full recovery. For temporary relief from the pain you can apply ice and take some over-the-counter pain relieving medicines. The main aim of the treatment is restoration of the original length and tension of the Achilles tendon. This will ensure that the patient can do all the activities that he or she used to do before the injury.

There are surgical as well as non-surgical methods for ruptured Achilles tendon repair. Non-surgical treatment works well when there is a partial rupture. In non-surgical forms of treatment, the initial 6 weeks require the use of a cast and/or special kind of braces. Thus, the torn ends of the tendon get the chance to heal on their own. The best part of this treatment is that there are no chances of infections which is often associated with a surgery.

Most people prefer surgery because after the non-surgical method of treatment, there is a risk of rupture of the tendon all over again. The surgical process involves making of an incision at the back of the lower leg and the torn tendons are joined together using stitches. After the surgery, the leg has to be kept in cast or braces for about 6-8 weeks depending on the condition of the tear. The treatment is followed by a complete rehabilitation program where the strength and flexibility of the Achilles tendon is worked on with the help of physical therapy exercises. Recovery time usually varies from 6-9 months in case of surgical treatment, and it can go up to 12 months in case the non-surgical method is used.

As you can see, a ruptured Achilles tendon takes a lot of time to heal completely. At the same time, the tendon is weakened because of the injury. Therefore, one should take measures to prevent a tear in the tendon. This can be achieved if you keep your muscles strong and flexible with the help of exercises. Before going for any sports activities, make sure you warm up your body with some good warm up and body stretching exercises.