Achilles tendon rupture

What is it?

The Achilles tendon is a strong fibrous cord that connects the muscles in the back of your calf to your heel bone. It helps you point your foot downward, rise on your toes and push off your foot as you walk. Achilles tendon rupture is an injury that affects the back of your lower leg. It mainly occurs in people playing recreational sports, but it can happen to anyone.

What are the symptoms?

■ A popping or snapping sound when the injury occurs or the feeling of having been kicked in the calf

■ Pain and swelling near the heel

■ An inability to stand on the toes on the injured leg

What causes it?

Ruptures are often caused by a sudden stress on your Achilles tendon such as falling from a height, stepping into a hole and in sports that involve jumping.

What’s the treatment?

Treatment depends on your age, activity level and the severity of your injury. Younger, more active people tend to go for surgical repair, while older people are more likely to opt for non-surgical treatment.

This involves resting the tendon by using crutches, applying ice to the area, taking OTC painkillers and using a walking boot with heel wedges or a cast, with the foot flexed down.

Surgery involves making an incision in the back of your lower leg and stitching the torn tendon together. The repair might be reinforced with other tendons.

After both treatments, you’ll have physiotherapy to strengthen your leg muscles and Achilles tendon. Most people are active within four to six months but strength and stability training is crucial because some problems can persist for up to a year.