The Achilles tendon is located at the back of the lower leg. It is the largest tendon in the human body, connecting the calf muscle to the bone at the bottom and back of the foot. Some ruptures can occur in tendons. These ruptures can develop due to strains and injuries. When Achilles tendon rupture is not treated, it causes significant problems and negatively affects the quality of life of the individual.
What is Achilles Tendon?
Tissues that are fibrous connective structures that connect the muscular system to the bones are called Achilles tendons. The tissue that connects the muscular system at the back of the calf to the heel bone is called Achilles tendon based on the story of Achilles. These tendons are located at the back of the ankle and have strong, durable structures. The Achilles tendon is protected in the heel by pads containing fluid. However, when overused, damage and tears occur in the tendon, and this damage can expose it to Achilles Tendonitis.
What is Achilles Tendon Rupture?
Achilles tendon rupture can occur due to tears or on its own. The Achilles tendon , which connects the muscles in the calf area of the human body with the heel part , can be partially or completely torn with these problems. Achilles tendon, which is known to rupture very often in the body, can be advanced or chronic. These ruptures occur predominantly in men and occur in the 30-40 age range. The average age of other cases of Achilles tendon rupture is around 60 years old and ruptures in this age group are seen especially in women. Although the cause of these ruptures is not yet known, sudden and strong stretching movements in the muscle in most cases predispose these ruptures. Spontaneous ruptures are generally characterized by pre-existing tendon disorders. When the Achilles tendon ruptures, the individual hears a strong sound at the back of the ankle and may feel a sudden and strong pain at the same time. Following this rupture, the person has difficulty walking and moving the ankle. Depending on the type of rupture, surgical intervention may be required.
What are the symptoms of Achilles tendon rupture?
Some symptoms occur when the Achilles tendon is damaged or torn. We can list these symptoms as follows;
- Strong pain in the leg
- Increased pain after sports and running
- Numbness in the leg area
- Limping gait
- Difficulty in mobility
- Burning sensation at the point where the Achilles tendon is located
However, in some athletes, there may be no problem in walking against Achilles tendon rupture because other muscles are strong enough to participate in the movement. In chronic or recurrent Achilles tendon, partial pain, weakness in bending the foot back, swelling in the calf, physical activity or a decrease in the point of stretching may occur.
What are the Causes of Achilles Tendon Rupture?
It is not clear for what reason the rupture of the Achilles tendon occurs. However, non-direct traumas are usually associated with rupture. The causes of Achilles tendon rupture are examined in three categories;
Mechanical: When the knee stance is open and extended, bending the ankle suddenly in front of the ankle may occur under weight and related to the increase in the weight on the stretched tendon.
Vascular: The Achilles tendon is located in a vascular weak part. There are very few veins in the area between 2-6 cm from the area where it rests. It is therefore more prone to ruptures.
Poor tissue quality: Tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendon that develops characteristic of acute injuries. Damage to the tendon tissues is a process of degeneration with repeated rupture associated with chronic injuries. Both of these problems allow the tendon to weaken and simply rupture. It usually occurs after minor traumas that occur after repetitive, incorrect exercise movements.
How is Achilles Tendon Rupture Diagnosed?
In order to diagnose a tendon rupture, the individual is first asked a number of questions about the discomfort by the specialists and the patient's history is listened to.
Then different methods are used during the examination. In Achilles tendon ruptures, the calf squeeze test, called the Thompson test, is very useful in making a diagnosis. In this test, while the person is lying face down, the calf part is squeezed by hand and the foot area is observed while bending towards the back.
If the Achilles tendon is ruptured, the person cannot perform this movement and no bending occurs. If the patient is walking and bending the foot backwards, the diagnosis of Achilles tendon may be missed. In these cases, MRI or ultrasound imaging can be applied.
What are the Treatment Methods for Achilles Tendon Rupture?
Thetreatment process ofAchilles tendon rupture differs depending on whether the problem is acute or chronic. In tendon ruptures, treatment methods that do not require surgical or surgical procedures that depend on the individual can be applied. In chronic ruptures, surgical procedure can be applied in order to restore the strength and ankle mobility of the sick people in general. However, treatment can be applied after observing the physical activity rate and different risk-posing conditions that will affect the health status of the people to be treated surgically. In treatments that do not require surgery, movements can be restricted by applying plaster to the ankle part. During the plaster application, the person is observed at regular intervals to check whether there is an improvement in the Achilles tendon. Generally, this type of treatment can be applied to avoid complications related to surgical procedures. Treatment of Achilles tendon rupture is very important because it can cause significant problems when left untreated.