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June 19, 2013
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Achilles Tendon Rupture (cont.)

Medical Author:
Christopher C Nannini, MD
Medical Editor:
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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Diagnosis of Achilles Tendon Rupture

  • A physician usually can make this diagnosis with a good physical examination and history. X-rays usually are not taken.
  • A simple test of squeezing the calf muscles while lying on your stomach should indicate if the tendon is still connected (the foot should point). This test isolates the connection between the calf muscle and tendon and eliminates other tendons that may still allow weak movement.
  • A word of caution: Achilles tendon rupture is often misdiagnosed as a strain or minor tendon injury. Swelling and the continuing ability to weakly point your toes can confuse the diagnosis.
  • Ultrasound and MRI are tests that can assist in difficult diagnosis. Depending on the degree of injury, these tests can also assist in determining which treatment may be best.

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Ruptured Tendon A tendon is the fibrous tissue that attaches muscle to bone in the human body. The forces applied to a tendon may be more than 5 times your body weight. Symptom...learn more >>
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Achilles Tendon Rupture - Treatment

The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:

What was the treatment for your Achilles tendon rupture?

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Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

Achilles Tendon Rupture »

Achilles tendon ruptures commonly occur to otherwise healthy menbetween the ages of 30 and 50 years who have had no previous injury or problem reported in the affected leg.

Read More on Medscape Reference »


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