The Achilles tendon is considered the most robust tendon in the body. It connects the calf muscles to the heel bone, therefore transmits the loads from the calf through to the feet for running and walking. One major physiological problem with this Achilles tendon would be that it and also the leg muscles are a two-joint construction. Therefore the Achilles tendon along with the calf muscles traverses two joints – the knee and also the ankle joint. If in the course of activity the 2 joints are moving in contrary directions, in this instance the ankle joint is dorsiflexing simultaneously that the knee joint is extending, then the force on the Achilles tendon is quite higher and if there is some weakness or issue with the tendon perhaps it will rip or rupture. This may occur in sporting activities such as basketball or badminton in which there are lot of sudden stop and start motion.
If the Achilles tendon should rupture it may be pretty dramatic. Sometimes there's an audible snap, yet in other cases there might be no pain and the athlete merely collapses to the floor since they loose all strength with the calf muscles through to the foot. There are numerous video clips of the tendon rupturing in athletes accessible in places like YouTube. A basic search there will find them. The video clips show just how striking the rupture is, exactly how simple it seems to occur and ways in which instantly debilitating it really is in the athlete when it occurs. Clinically a rupture of the tendon is fairly clear to identify and assess, as whenever they contract the calf muscles, the foot will not move. While standing they can not raise on to the toes. The Thompson test is a check that when the calf muscle is squeezed, then the foot should plantarflex. When the Achilles tendon is torn, then this does not happen.
The first-aid approach to an Achilles tendon rupture is ice and pain alleviation and also for the athlete to get off the leg, normally in a walking support or splint. You can find mixed experiences on the definitive solution for an Achilles tendon rupture. One choice is operative, and the alternative option is to wearing a walking splint. The science evaluating the 2 approaches is rather obvious in showing that there are no contrast between the 2 about the long term results, so you can be comfortable in knowing that whichever treatment methods are used, then the long terms consequences are similar. For the short term, the surgical approach will get the athlete returning to sport faster, however as always, any surgery does carry a small anaesthetic risk and also surgical wound infection risk. That risk has to be compared to the need to go back to the activity quicker.
What is quite possibly more significant in comparison to the choice of the operative or non-surgical therapy is the actual rehabilitation after. The data is extremely clear that the earlier weight bearing and motion is completed, the more effective the end result. This must be completed progressively and slowly permitting the tendon along with the muscle to build up strength prior to a resumption of sporting activity.
