Achilles Tendon Rupture
Overview
Risk Factors
This problem is more common in people who:
- Are 30 to 40 years of age, often males who play sports
- Are over 60 years, often women when climbing stairs
- Play basketball or racket sports
Some other things that may raise the risk are:
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Recent changes in activity
- Poor footwear
- Alignment problems
- Calf muscles that are weak or are not flexible
- Prior rupture
- Obesity
- Certain medicines, such as fluoroquinolones
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Treatments
Treatment
Treatment depends on the amount of damage and the person's health. Options are:
Supportive Care
A minor rupture in someone who is less active or not well enough for surgery may be treated with:
- Rest, ice, compression, and elevation
- Medicines to ease pain and swelling
- Crutches or a walker to keep weight off of the leg
- Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles
Surgery
Surgery may be done to sew the tendon back together. This lowers the risk of it rupturing again.
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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a (Rupture, Achilles Tendon; Severely Torn Achilles Tendon)
RESOURCES
American Podiatric Medical Association http://www.apma.org
OrthoInfo—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons http://orthoinfo.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation http://www.canorth.org
Canadian Physiotherapy Association http://www.physiotherapy.ca
References
Achilles tendon rupture. American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons Foot Health Facts website. Available at: https://www.foothealthfacts.org/conditions/achilles-tendon-rupture. Accessed July 29, 2020.
Achilles tendon rupture. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T116632/Achilles-tendon-rupture . Updated April 8, 2020. Accessed July 29, 2020.
Achilles tendon rupture. Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=AV0003. Updated May 2012. Accessed July 29, 2020.
Uquillas CA, Guss MS, et al. Everything Achilles: Knowledge Update and Current Concepts in Management: AAOS Exhibit Selection. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2015 Jul 15;97(14):1187-1195.