Treating Achilles Tendon Injuries
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.
There are two types of injury to which the Achilles tendon is particularly susceptible:
First is overuse inflammation, known as Achilles tendonitis.
#2 The Achilles tendon can be torn during strenuous activity.
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.
In the case of a torn Achilles tendon surgical repair may be indicated. Toughened, fibrous tissue and tears can be removed with surgery. Following surgery, rehabilitation will speed recovery and help avert future ankle weakness.
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Specifics About Achilles Tendon Surgery
During strenuous activity, it is quite possible to tear the Achilles tendon. This is especially likely to happen while participating in sports. When the Achilles tendon tears, you may actually hear an audible snapping or cracking sound. You may have a partial or complete tear. This injury usually occurs just above the heel bone.
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.
If you have a complete rupture, you will probably need surgery. Following surgery, you will need to use a cast or walking boot to keep your ankle stable. This will last about 3 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.
With surgery, there is a much better chance of recovering fully. This is why athletes prefer to have the surgery. It allows them to return to their former level of activity with confidence after an Achilles tendon injury.
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