Achilles Tendon Injuries

Individuals playing sporting games are more prone to Achilles Tendon Injuries

Achilles Tendon Injuries affect the back of your lower leg. It mainly occurs in individuals playing sporting games like bicycling, bowling, freshwater fishing, golf, baseball, table tennis, cricket, tennis, basketball, volleyball, field hockey, badminton, and soccer, but it can happen to anyone.

The Achilles Tendon is a strong fibrous bone that connects the muscles in the back of your calf to your heel bone. It helps you point your foot downward, rise on your toes and push off your foot as you walk. You rely on it virtually every time you walk and move your foot.If you overstretch your Achilles Tendon, it can tear (rupture) completely or just partially.

Ruptures often are caused by a sudden increase in the stress on your Achilles Tendon. Common examples include:

• Increasing the intensity of sports participation, especially in sports that involve jumping
• Falling from a height
• Stepping into a hole

Orthopedic Specialists at Shreya Hospital Ghaziabad provide best treatment and diagnosis for Achilles Tendon Injuries . Orthopaedic Treatments and diagnosis of ruptured Achilles tendon often depends on your age, activity level and the severity of your injury. In general, younger and more active people, particularly athletes, tend to choose surgery to repair a completely ruptured Achilles tendon, while older people are more likely to opt for nonsurgical treatment.

During Achilles Tendon Injuries, you might hear a pop, followed by an immediate sharp pain in the back of your ankle and lower leg that is likely to affect your ability to walk properly. Surgery is often performed to repair the rupture. For many people, however, nonsurgical treatment works just as well.

Nonsurgical treatment

This approach typically involves:

• Resting the tendon by using crutches
• Applying ice to the area
• Taking over-the-counter pain relievers
• Keeping the ankle from moving for the first few weeks, usually with a walking boot with heel wedges or a cast, with the foot flexed down

If there’s a question about the extent of your Achilles tendon injury — whether it’s completely or only partially ruptured — your doctor might order an ultrasound or MRI scan. These painless procedures create images of the tissues of your body.

To reduce your chance of developing Achilles tendon problems, follow these tips:

• Stretch and strengthen calf muscles Stretch your calf until you feel a noticeable pull but not pain. Don’t bounce during a stretch. Calf-strengthening exercises can also help the muscle and tendon absorb more force and prevent injury. 
  

• Vary your exercises Alternate high-impact sports, such as running, with low-impact sports, such as walking, biking or swimming. Avoid activities that place excessive stress on your Achilles tendons, such as hill running and jumping activities.

• Choose running surfaces carefully Avoid or limit running on hard or slippery surfaces. Dress properly for cold-weather training, and wear well-fitting athletic shoes with proper cushioning in the heels.

• Increase training intensity slowly Achilles tendon injuries commonly occur after an abrupt increase in training intensity. Increase the distance, duration and frequency of your training by no more than 10 percent weekly.