The Achilles tendon is probably the most powerful tendon in the body. This tendon connects the posterior muscles to the heel bone, therefore transfers the forces from the calf muscles through to the feet for walking and running. One considerable physiological disadvantage of the Achilles tendon would be that it along with the calf muscles is a two-joint structure. Therefore the tendon along with the calf muscles passes across two joints – the knee along with the ankle joint. If during exercise the two joints can be moving in opposing directions, in this instance the ankle joint is dorsiflexing at the same time that the knee is going to be extending, then the strain on the tendon is fairly high and when there is a weakness or issue with the Achilles tendon it might tear or rupture. This could happen in sports activities such as basketball or volleyball where there is a abrupt stop and start motion.
When the Achilles tendon should rupture it is typically really dramatic. In some cases there's an discernable snap, however other times there might be no pain and the athlete merely falls to the ground as they loose all power in the leg muscles through to the foot. There are several video clips of the tendon rupturing in athletes to be found in places like YouTube. A simple search there will probably find them. The videos demonstrate how extraordinary the rupture is, exactly how easy it appears to occur and ways in which instantly disabling it is in the athlete when it happens. Clinically a rupture of the tendon is really apparent to identify and assess, as when they contract the calf muscles, the foot won't move. When standing they can not raise on to the toes. The Thompson test is a test that when the calf muscle is compressed, then your foot should plantarflex. If the tendon is ruptured, then this does not happen.
The first aid treatment for an Achilles tendon rupture is ice and pain alleviation and for the athlete to get off the leg, typically in a walking support or splint. You will find mixed thoughts on the definitive solution for an Achilles tendon tear. One option is operative, and the alternative option is to wearing a walking brace. The science looking at the two options is quite clear in demonstrating that there are no distinction between the 2 concerning the long term consequences, so that you can be secure in understanding that whichever treatment solution is used, then the long terms consequences are the same. For the short term, the surgical treatment can get the athlete back in sport more rapidly, however as always, any surgery treatment does carry a modest anaesthetic danger and surgical wound infection risk. That risk needs to be weighed against the desire to go back to the sport quicker.
What is most likely more important in comparison to the choice of the operative or non-surgical treatment is the rehabilitation following. The evidence is reasonably apparent that the quicker standing and walking and movement is carried out, the more effective the end result. This needs to be done gradually and slowly to allow for the tendon and also the muscle to develop strength ahead of the resumption of sport.