The Achilles tendon is regarded as the most powerful tendon within the body. The Achilles attaches the posterior muscles on the heel bone, therefore transmits the forces from your calf to the foot for walking and running. One considerable anatomical downside of the Achilles tendon can it be along with the calf muscles is a two-joint design. Therefore the tendon along with the calf muscles passes across two joints – the knee joint and the ankle joint. If throughout exercise the 2 joints will be moving in opposite directions, in this case the ankle is dorsiflexing at the same time that the knee will be extending, then the load on the tendon is relatively excessive and when there is a weakness or issue with the Achilles tendon it could tear or break. This tends to take place in sports such as basketball or boxing in which there is a quick stop and start movement.

In the event the Achilles tendon may rupture it may be rather dramatic. At times there's an audible snap, however other times there could be no pain and the athlete just collapses to the ground since they loose all power with the leg muscles through to the foot. There are plenty of video clips of the Achilles tendon rupturing in athletes found in places like YouTube. A simple search there will probably find them. The video clips clearly show just how dramatic the rupture is, precisely how simple it seems to happen and exactly how instantly debilitating it can be in the athlete as soon as it takes place. Clinically a rupture of the tendon is quite apparent to diagnose and evaluate, as whenever they contract the calf muscles, the foot will not likely move. While standing they can not raise up on to the toes. The Thompson test is a examination that whenever the calf muscle is compressed, then the foot ought to plantarflex. If the tendon is torn, then this doesn't happen.

The first aid approach to an Achilles tendon rupture is ice and pain relief and for the athlete to get off the leg, usually in a walking support or splint. You can find mixed views on the definitive strategy for an Achilles tendon rupture. One choice is surgical, and the alternative choice is to using a walking support. The studies evaluating the 2 approaches is really apparent in demonstrating that there are no distinction between the two in regards to the long term results, so that you can be relaxed in understanding that whatever treatment methods are used, then the long terms consequences are exactly the same. For the short term, the operative treatment can get the athlete returning to sport quicker, but as always, any surgery does carry a modest anaesthetic risk as well as surgical site infection risk. That risk needs to be compared to the requirement to come back to the sport faster.

What is quite possibly more significant in comparison to the choice of the surgical or non-surgical treatment is the actual rehabilitation following. The evidence is reasonably clear that the sooner weight bearing and motion is carried out, the better the outcome. This must be carried out gradually and slowly but surely allowing the tendon as well as the muscle to build up strength prior to a resumption of activity.