Achilles Tendon Rupture: A Painful Reminder You Are Not A God

If you're an athlete of just about any kind and have been one for any length of time -- and you're a man -- chances are you or another athlete pal of yours has suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon.

The Achilles tendon is that ropey fibrous tissue that connects your heel to the muscles of your lower leg. It's named for the Greek god Achilles whose mother, the goddess Thetis, heard a prophecy that her son would die young. So she dipped him into the River Styx to protect him, yet she held him by his heels and his feet/ankles never touched the water, making that part of his body vulnerable. Achilles' was struck on his "unprotected" heel by an arrow during the Trojan War, killing him. (According to Wikipedia.org, the first use of Achilles tendon to describe this part of the human anatomy took place in 1693 by Flemish/Dutch anatomist Philip Verheyen.)

If you've ever experienced an Achilles tendon rupture, you know how excruciatingly painful it can be. Some victims have described the pain as feeling as if they've been shot in that area.

A rupture of the Achilles tendon is not uncommon, although most people who experience the rupture are men (the ratio of Achilles tendon rupture sufferers is 20:1, men to women). Most rupture the tendon while playing sports, often when they jump up and land awkwardly. Yet ruptures can occur -- rarely -- when stepping off curbs or even tripping on high heels, so long as the force of the misstep or landing is powerful enough. Dancers also rupture these tendons relatively frequently (relative to the sports athletes).

An Achilles tendon rupture can be misdiagnosed as an ankle sprain; a podiatrist will examine the injured area and, if he or she feels a gap above the heel, a rupture has occurred.

Youll more than likely not be able to walk very well or at all on the affected leg. You wont be able to step off the ground; neither will you be able to stand on your toes.

Your podiatrist may recommend surgery. If so, the surgeon will make an incision on the back of your leg and literally stitch the tendon back to together. If your rupture was serious, the surgeon may take another, smaller muscle and wrap it around your Achilles tendon. This helps keep the tendon strong.

Non-surgical treatment will probably see your foot/ankle pointed downwards in an enclosed cast for six to eight weeks.

To help prevent Achilles tendon rupture, be sure to stretch the back of your leg by the ankle each and every time before exercising any type of sport -- and watch your step and jumps.


Copyright (c) 2010 Dr Alireza Khosroabady DPM