The Achilles tendon is one of the longer tendons in your body about 5.9 inches (15cm), which extends from the bones of your heel to your calf muscles. Sudden intense trauma can rupture the tendon or separate from the bone. Other common tears happen from intense sports that twist or jerk the tendon. The pain can compromise ankle mobility if left untreated. About 10 percent of Achilles tendonitis (torn Achilles) strain is from running injuries.
The usual symptoms of Achilles tendon injuries are pain along the back of your foot above your heel typically when stretching your ankle or standing on your toes. Tendinitis pain may be mild and gradually worsens. Tendon ruptures are abrupt and severely debilitating. The common symptoms of tendon injuries are tenderness, swelling, stiffness, a snapping or popping noise, and hindrance flexing your foot or pointing your toes (in complete tears of the tendon).
Causes of Tendon Injuries
Frequent Achilles tendon injuries happen because of an increase in athletic activities like running or walking – longer and faster, ascending steep hills or stairs, or more powerful ‘explosive’ movements like lunges, jumps, or push off’s. The classification of these injuries are
- Achilles tendinosis (also known as Achilles tendinopathy)
- Achilles tendonitis
- Achilles tenosynovitis
- Tennis Leg
- or in severe cases an Achilles tendon rupture
Prevention of this fragile injury is variant yet familiarizing yourself with misalignment is so crucial, because unequal leg length, over or under pronation during exertion is overlooked until it occurs, also tight Achilles tendons or calf muscles sequence weak calf muscles, consequently the heel or other foot bones are sprained as a result of the former injuries mentioned.
How Are Achilles Tendon Injuries Classified?
The usual suspects of this Achilles injury are
- Achilles Tendinosis,
- Achilles Tendonitis
- Achilles Tenosynovitis
- and the common Tennis Leg
The two most common of these injuries worth briefly elaborating are Achilles tendonitis and an Achilles tendon rupture.
Achilles tendonitis is inflammation of the Achilles tendon, the largest tendon in the body, which runs from the calf to the heel bone, and it is classified twofold
- Noninsertional Achilles tendonitis affects fibers in the middle of the tendon
- Insertional Achilles tendonitis affects the lower portion of the tendon where it attaches to the heel bone
And an Achilles tendon rupture is mostly during strenuous activity. The break itself may cause a pop and feels like piercing in the ligament. Symptoms may be severe pain and swelling, difficulty walking and inability standing on the toes of the injured foot.
You have the gist of this delicate injury so henceforth expedite stretching your leg muscles and Achilles tendons before and after exercise. Minimize uphill running. Wear shoes with more support and that fit well. Gradually intensify physical activity. Stop when you feel pain or stiffness in the back of your calf or heel.
