The Achilles Tendon: Injuries & Treatment
Of all of the tendons in the human body, the Achilles tendon is the largest. The muscles at the posterior of the lower leg are attached to the calcaneous (heel bone) by the Achilles tendon. Because if it’s location, the Achilles tendon must withstand a great deal of pressure during strenuous exercise - especially sporting activities that involve a lot of pivoting.
Two types of injury are quite common for the Achilles tendon:
#1 Achilles tendonitis is inflammation caused by overuse.
2. The Achilles tendon is sometimes torn.
What is Achilles Tendonitis?
When you suddenly increase the intensity of your training or change to a new kind of training without completely conditioning your body to it, you may be subject to Achilles tendonitis. You may be particularly prone to it if you add sudden vigorous activity like uphill running to your training schedule. Additionally, if you take a long break from training and then start right back up at your peak level, you may cause Achilles tendonitis.
When you have Achilles tendonitis, you may feel mild pain immediately after exercising that becomes worse and worse with time. Several hours after your workout, you may experience severe pain. After you have rested, you may experience swelling, tenderness and stiffness that may subside somewhat with movement.
If the Achilles tendon is torn, it may be possible to repair it surgically. Tears and toughened, fibrous tissues may be removed with surgery. Rehabilitation to prevent weakness in the ankle will play a part in recovery.
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More Information About A Torn Achilles Tendon
You may overstretch your Achilles tendon during vigorous activity. This often happens during sports. You may actually hear a crack or a snap when the injury occurs. The tear is usually located just above the calcaneous (heel bone). It may be complete or partial.
If this happens, you may find that you are not able to bend your foot into a downward position or even to walk normally. This type of injury is very painful and causes a lot of swelling around the heel.
A complete rupture is usually treated with surgery. After surgery, your doctor will have you wear a walking boot or a cast to stabilize your ankle. You will need to do this for about three months.
It is also possible to treat a torn ligament non-surgically by using a below-knee cast. This allows the ends of a torn tendon to heal naturally. It takes a bit longer for this kind of treatment to work. Additionally, there is a greater chance that the tendon will rupture again.
You have a better chance to experience full recovery with surgery. That’s why active people who want to continue enjoying sports often choose surgical treatment for and injured Achilles tendon.
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