Achilles Tendon Injury

 

An Achilles tendon injury can affect both professional and amateur athletes. The Achilles tendon is one of the longer tendons in your body, stretching from the bones of your heel to your calf muscles. You can feel it -- a springy band of tissue at the back of your ankle and above your heel. It allows you to extend your foot and point your toes to the floor. Unfortunately, it's a commonly injured tendon. Many Achilles tendon injuries are caused by tendinitis, in which the tendon becomes swollen and painful. In a severe Achilles tendon injury, too much force on the tendon can cause it to tear partially or rupture completely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Causes

 

An Achilles tendon injury might be caused by:

 

•  Overuse
   

•  Stepping up your level of physical activity too quickly

 

•  Wearing high heels, which increases the stress on the tendon

 

•  Problems with the feet; an Achilles tendon injury can result from flat feet, also known as fallen arches or overpronation. In this condition, the impact of a step causes the arch of your foot to collapse, stretching the muscles and tendons.

 

•  Muscles or tendons in the leg that are too tight

 

You're more likely to tear an Achilles tendon when you start moving suddenly. For instance, a sprinter might get one at the start of a race. The abrupt tensing of the muscle can be too much for the tendon to handle. Men older than age 30 are particularly prone to Achilles tendon injuries. 

 

Symptoms

 

Symptoms of an Achilles tendon injury are:

 

•  Pain along the back of your foot and above your heel, especially when stretching your ankle or standing on your toes;   with tendinitis, pain may be mild and worsen gradually. If you rupture the tendon, pain can be abrupt and severe.

 

•  Tenderness 

 

•  Swelling

 

•  Stiffness

 

•  Hearing a snapping or popping noise during the injury

 

•  Difficulty flexing your foot or pointing your toes (in complete tears of the tendon)

 

Preventing Achilles Tendon injury

 

There are things you can do to help prevent an Achilles tendon injury. You should:

 

•  Cut down on uphill running.

 

•  Wear shoes with good support that fit well.

 

•  Always increase the intensity of your physical activity slowly.

 

•  Stop exercising if you feel pain or tightness in the back of your calf or heel.