Least Effective Exercises Slideshow

Medical Author:

Christopher C Nannini, MD

Medical Editor:

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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Achilles Tendon Rupture Treatment

The objective of treatment is to restore normal length and tension to the tendon and allow you to do what you could do before the injury. Treatment reflects a balance between protection and early motion.

• Protection is necessary to allow time for healing and to prevent reinjury.
• Moving your foot and ankle is needed to prevent stiffness and loss of muscle tone.
• Treatment options are surgical or nonsurgical. The choice is controversial.
• Both surgical and nonsurgical treatment will require an initial period of about six weeks of casting or special braces. The cast may be changed at two- to four-week intervals to slowly stretch the tendon back to its normal length. Casting may be combined with early movement (one to three weeks) to improve overall strength and flexibility.
• A heel lift device and, regardless of the choice of treatment, regular physical therapy follow for the remainder of treatment.
• Consultation with an orthopedic surgeon will determine the treatment and follow-up that is right for you.