Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendon Rupture Overview
- Achilles Tendon Rupture Causes
- Achilles Tendon Rupture Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Achilles Tendon Rupture Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Surgery
- Other Therapy
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
Achilles Tendon Rupture Overview
The Achilles tendon, or tendon calcaneus, is a large ropelike band of fibrous tissue in the back of the ankle that connects the powerful calf muscles to the heel bone (calcaneus). Sometimes called the heel cord, it is the largest tendon in the human body. When the calf muscles contract, the Achilles tendon is tightened, pulling the heel. This allows you to point your foot and stand on tiptoe. It is vital to such activities as walking, running, and jumping. A complete tear through the tendon, which usually occurs about 2 inches above the heel bone, is called an Achilles tendon rupture.
Achilles Tendon Rupture Causes
The Achilles tendon can grow weak and thin with age and lack of use. Then it becomes prone to injury or rupture. Certain illnesses (such as arthritis and diabetes) and medications (such as corticosteroids and some antibiotics) can also increase the risk of rupture.
- Rupture most commonly occurs in the middle-aged male athlete (the weekend warrior who is engaging in a pickup game of basketball, for example). Injury often occurs during recreational sports that require bursts of jumping, pivoting, and running. Most often these are tennis, racquetball, basketball, and badminton.
- The injury can happen in these situations.
- You make a forceful push-off with your foot while your knee is straightened by the powerful thigh muscles. One example might be starting a foot race or jumping.
- You suddenly trip or stumble, and your foot is thrust in front to break a fall, forcefully overstretching the tendon.
- You fall from a significant height.
- You make a forceful push-off with your foot while your knee is straightened by the powerful thigh muscles. One example might be starting a foot race or jumping.
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Achilles Tendon Rupture
Ankle Sprain Overview
The ankle joint, which connects the foot with the lower leg, is injured often. An unnatural twisting motion can happen when the foot is planted awkwardly, when the ground is uneven, or when an unusual amount of force is applied to the joint. Such injuries happen during athletic events, while running or walking, or even during everyday activities such as getting out of bed.
- The ankle joint is made up of three bones.
- The tibia is the major
bone of the lower leg, and it bears most of the body's weight. Its bottom portion forms the medial malleolus, the inside bump of the ankle.
- The fibula is the smaller of the two bones in the lower leg. Its lower end forms the lateral malleolus, the outer bump of the ankle.
- The talus is the top bone of the foot.
- The tibia is the major
bone of the lower leg, and it bears most of the body's weight. Its bottom portion forms the medial malleolus, the inside bump of the ankle.
- Tendons connect muscles to bones.
- Several muscles ...
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Achilles Tendon Rupture »
Achilles tendon ruptures commonly occur to otherwise healthy men between the ages of 30 and 50 years who have had no previous injury or problem reported in the affected leg.
