Tag: achilles tendon rupture

A tear of the Achilles tendon is not an uncommon trauma in sports activity and could be quite dramatic if it occurs, because the calf muscles and the connected Achilles tendon play such an significant function. It is more likely to happen in explosive activities such as tennis. The real issue is that the achilles tendon and the two muscles attached to it cross two joints (the knee as well as the ankle joint) and if both joints are moving in contrary directions at the same time, especially if instantly (as can happen in tennis), then the likelihood of something going wrong is fairly high.

The management of an achilles tendon rupture is a bit controversial because there are two alternatives that the majority the research shows have got very similar outcomes. One choice is conservative and the other is operative. The conservative choice is typically putting the lower limb in cast that supports the foot pointing downwards slightly. Normally it takes up to six weeks to get better and after the cast is taken away, there ought to be a slow and gentle return to exercise. Physical rehabilitation is commonly used to help with that. Strengthening after an Achilles rupture is important to prevent the rupture from happening again. The surgical choice is to surgically sew the two ends of the tendon back together, this is followed by a period in a cast which is shorter compared to the conservative choice, and will be followed by a similar steady and slow return to activity. When longer term outcomes are compared the final result is usually about the same, but the operative technique has the additional chance of surgical or anaesthetic complications that the conservative method doesn't have. The choice as to which method is better is going to have to be one dependent on the experiences of the surgeon and the preferences of the individual with the rupture. There's a tendency for competitive athletes to go down the surgical pathway since it is considered that this does give a better short term outcome and get the athlete back to the sports field a lot quicker.

The Achilles tendon is considered the most robust tendon in the body. This tendon connects the posterior muscles on the heel bone, therefore transmits the forces from your calf to the foot for running and walking. One big physiological downside of the Achilles tendon can it be and also the leg muscles is a two-joint construction. This means that the tendon and the muscle traverses two joints – the knee joint and the ankle. If during activity the two joints can be moving in opposing directions, in this instance the ankle joint is dorsiflexing at the same time that the knee joint will be extending, then the strain on the tendon is pretty substantial and when there may be some weakness or issue with the Achilles tendon perhaps it will rip or break. This would occur in sporting activities like basketball or badminton where there are lot of rapid stop and start motion.

If the Achilles tendon should rupture it is typically quite dramatic. Occasionally there is an perceptible snap, although sometimes there could be no pain and the athlete merely collapses to the floor since they loose all strength in the calf muscles through to the foot. There are numerous videos of the tendon rupturing in athletes accessible in places like YouTube. A basic search there will locate them. The videos demonstrate how extraordinary the rupture is, exactly how simple it seems to happen and just how immediately disabling it can be in the athlete as soon as it occurs. Clinically a rupture of the Achilles tendon is pretty evident to identify and assess, as once they contract the calf muscles, the foot isn't going to move. When standing they can not raise on to the toes. The Thompson test is a check that when the calf muscle is squeezed, then your foot should plantarflex. If the Achilles tendon is torn, then this doesn't happen.

The first aid treatment for an Achilles tendon rupture is ice and pain alleviation and also for the athlete to get off the leg, commonly in a walking brace or splint. You can find mixed thoughts on the ideal solution for an Achilles tendon tear. One option is operative, and the alternative choice is to using a walking brace. The studies comparing the 2 approaches is pretty clear in demonstrating that there is no distinction between the two regarding the long term consequences, so that you can be secure in understanding that whatever treatment solution is used, then the long terms results are the same. In the short term, the surgical approach does get the athlete back to sport more rapidly, but as always, any surgical procedure may carry a small anaesthetic danger as well as surgical wound infection risk. That risk must be compared to the call to get back to the activity faster.

What's almost certainly more significant in comparison to the selection of the surgical or non-surgical therapy is the actual rehabilitation after. The research is very apparent that the sooner standing and walking and motion is completed, the higher quality the outcome. This really needs to be completed gradually and slowly but surely allowing the tendon and also the calf muscles to develop strength before the resumption of activity.