Achilles Tendon Injury - Treatment of Achilles Tendon Injury

What is Achilles Tendon Injury?

Achilles Tendon is strong tendon located at the back of the ankle which connects the muscles of the calf to the bone of the heel. This condition is named after the Greek hero Achilles. Achilles tendinitis is caused by a force on the tendon greater than its inherent strength. A rupture of the Achilles tendon was diagnosed incidentally on palpation and observation of a positive Thompson's squeeze test. Achilles tendonitis is a common overuse injury that tends to occur in middle-age recreational athletes. An Achilles injury is certainly an injury you want to try and avoid at all costs. It is notoriously slow to heal because of its relatively poor blood supply. The overuse causes inflammation that can lead to pain and swelling. Achilles tendon lengthening is commonly performed to improve foot function. Muscle transfer procedures are performed to improve function of the wrist or other joints. Achilles tendinitis and rupture may be more common adverse effects of levofloxacin than previously thought. Particular caution should be exercised in prescribing levofloxacin in high doses, and to elderly patients, especially those on corticosteroids.

The achilles tendon joins three muscles: the two heads of the gastrocnemius and the soleus. The gastrocnemius heads arise from the posterior portions of the femoral condyles. The soleus arises from the posterior aspect of the tibia and fibula. This injury requires specialist treatment, which may consist of surgery, to stitch the two tendon ends together, or immobilization in a plaster cast, allowing the tendon to heal naturally.

Test and Diagnosis, Treatment of Achilles Tendon Injury

For a tendon rupture, the area of the rupture is often swollen, tender, bruised (ecchymotic), and may actually have a palpable gap in the tendon. X-rays, although they do not show the tendon reliably, do show the calcaneus. This type of injury results in a stretch injury to the tendon which is called tendonitis. Although this often heals without surgery, until completely healed, the tendon is structurally weaker then normal and is at an increased risk for tearing with continued athletic activity or additional injury producing situations. The mechanism of injury was thought to be impact hyperdorsiflexion of the ankle with rupture of the Achilles tendon accompanied by an inversion injury. Using a literature search, it was found that this combination of injuries has not been previously reported. Risk factors for tendinopathy include old age, chronic lung disease, steroid treatment and impaired renal function. Concomitant treatment with corticosteroids may be a predisposing factor for tendinitis, but this is not a consistent finding. While Achilles tendon problems are widespread, the terminology used to describe them is often inaccurate and is undergoing a significant transition. First to be precise we must consider where along the course of the tendon does the problem exist. This may be in one of three main areas:

1. Insertion
2. Musculo-tendinous Juncture
3. Non-insertional (main body of tendon)

Symptoms of Achilles tendinitis

• Mild pain after exercise or running that gradually worsens
• A noticeable sense of sluggishness in your leg
• Episodes of diffuse or localized pain, sometimes severe, along the tendon during or a few hours after running
• Morning tenderness about an inch and a half above the point where the Achilles tendon is attached to the heel bone
• Stiffness that generally diminishes as the tendon warms up with use
• Some swelling

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