Many runners experience pain in or around the calf muscles and can still continue running, but if your Achilles tendon is torn, you will unfortunately have to put your running shoes aside for a while. What symptoms can you recognize a torn Achilles tendon? And what does the treatment look like? You can read that here.
How do you know if your Achilles tendon has ruptured?
Pain in or around your Achilles tendon can have various causes, such as overload or Achilles tendonitis. While these pain complaints generally develop slowly, a ruptured Achilles tendon almost always occurs traumatically. Sports where this often occurs are so-called stop-and-go sports where being able to turn quickly is important, such as badminton, football, basketball, tennis and squash. But a wrong movement can also cause a ruptured Achilles tendon while running or trail running.
What symptoms do you recognize as a ruptured Achilles tendon? You immediately feel a severe pain in the region of the Achilles tendon, under the calf. It looks like you’ve been stabbed by a knife. In addition, such a crack may also be accompanied by an audible ‘snapping’ sound. You notice that walking is very difficult afterwards and you cannot stand on your toes.
How is a ruptured Achilles tendon treated?
The treatment of a ruptured Achilles tendon depends on several factors. First, the Achilles tendon can partially or completely tear. Partial tears are usually treated conservatively. This means that it is not operated on, but that you try to strengthen the tendon tissue yourself or under the guidance of a physiotherapist. If you have a complete tear, you will probably need surgery, during which the tendon ends will be sutured.
Both non-operative and operative treatment often starts with a brace or plaster cast during the first weeks. To prevent stiffening of the ankle, you can often continue to move the ankle carefully without putting any strain on it.
How long does it take to recover from a ruptured Achilles tendon?
It is not easy to say exactly how long recovery from a ruptured Achilles tendon takes. You can often carefully put weight on the foot in a cast or brace again after two weeks. Keep in mind that recovery is influenced by several factors, including age, medical history and of course the severity of the situation.
In consultation with your doctor, physiotherapist and/or surgeon, you can carefully resume exercising after approximately 10 to 12 weeks. The emphasis is on strengthening the Achilles tendon and calf muscles, for example with these exercises. Be guided during recovery to avoid putting too much strain on your Achilles tendon too quickly.
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2023-10-24 15:27:21
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