Do I Have An Achilles Tendon Tear or Rupture?
An achilles tendon rupture is an injury that occurs in the back of your leg. It usually affects people playing sports.
Your achilles tendon is a cord that connects your muscles in the back of your calf to your heel bone. If you overstretch your achilles tendon it can tear, rupture, completely or partially.
Your Achilles tendon helps you point your foot, stand on your toes as well as push off on our feet for you to walk. You basically couldn’t move your foot without your Achilles tendon.
Symptoms of an Achilles Tendon Rupture
If you rupture your Achilles Tendon you may, automatically:
- Feel a pop or snap
- Feel a sharp pain in the lower back of your leg
- Be unable to walk
After an Achilles Tendon Rupture You May Feel…
- It is hard to stand or push down on your foot
- Swelling near your heel
- Inability to stand on your toes
Causes for Achilles Tendon Tears or Ruptures
Ruptures are often caused by a sudden and intense change in the amount of stress on the Achilles tendon. Some examples of common Achilles tendon injuries include:
- Increasing the intensity of your sports participation, especially if it’s a sport that involves jumping.
- Falling from a height
- Stepping into a hole
Factors That Increase Risk for Tearing Your Achilles Tendon
Your Age: The peak age for Achilles tendon ruptures is between 3 and 40.
Your Gender: Men are five times more likely to rupture their Achilles tendon than women are.
Sports: Achilles tendon injuries occur most often in sports, such as soccer, basketball and tennis.
Steroid injections: Certain steroid injections that are used to strengthen the ankles can actually weaken certain tendons.
Because rupturing your Achilles tendon is so painful and inhibits your ability to walk, you may want to seek emergency room care right away.
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Call Alexander Orthopaedics Associates
At AOA, we are passionate about restoring our patients lives. If you or someone you know is having ankle or Achilles tendon pain, please do not hesitate to call us. We are the leading orthopedic office in St. Petersburg, Brandon and Largo, Fla.