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AchillesTendon.com The Achilles Tendon Encyclopedia for people who: have an Achilles tendon
injury, want to recover from an Achilles tendon injury, and
want to
prevent (or prevent the recurrence of) an Achilles tendon
injury.
The Achilles
tendon is fibrous tissue that connects the heel to the muscles
of the lower leg: the calf muscles. Leg muscles are the
most powerful muscle group in the body and the Achilles tendon
is the thickest and strongest tendon in the body.
Contracting the calf muscles pulls the Achilles tendon, which
pushes the foot downward. This contraction enables: standing
on the toes, walking, running, and jumping. Each Achilles
tendon is subject to a person’s entire body weight with each
step. Depending upon speed, stride, terrain and additional
weight being carried or pushed, each Achilles tendon may be
subject to up to 3-12 times a person’s body weight during a
sprint or push off. For more information on Achilles
tendon anatomy see:
Physiology.
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Larger
version of Achilles Tendon Illustratations Causes of Injury Overuse,
misalignment, improper footwear, medication side effects,
and/or accidents can all result in Achilles tendon injuries.
Multiple causes often contribute to the same Achilles tendon
injury. For information on each of these Achilles tendon
injury causes, see Causes of
Injury
Preventing Injuries
The best way to prevent an Achilles
tendon injury is to a) stay in overall good shape, and b)
warm-up, stretch, and strengthen the Achilles tendons. The
best way to prevent an Achilles tendon injury from getting
worse is to address the injury immediately: it will get worse
if not addressed. For more information on preventing Achilles
tendon injuries see: Preventing
Injuries. |
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Injuries
Undue strain results in
over 230,000 Achilles tendon injuries per year in the
U.S. alone.
The undue strain could be caused by a variety of
factors, including: tightness or weakness of the leg, knee,
hip, or back; high or low arches; uneven leg lengths; alternating between high
(2”) heels and exercise shoes; and/or sudden (rather than
gradual) increases in training, such as running faster,
further, or up steeper hills.
The most common Achilles
tendon injuries are Achilles tendinosis
(formerly called Achilles tendonitis) and Achilles tendon
rupture. Achilles tendinosis is a soreness and stiffness that
comes on gradually and continues to worsen until treated.
It often starts
with stiffness and creaking when first getting out of bed in
the morning. Lightly pinching the
Achilles tendon with the forefinger and thumb will indicate
soreness. Achilles tendinosis is a common injury among middle
and long distance runners. Achilles tendon rupture is a
partial or complete tear of the Achilles tendon. It comes on
suddenly, sometimes with a popping sound, and is
debilitating.
Partial and full Achilles tendon ruptures are most
likely to occur in sports requiring sudden eccentric
stretching, such as sprinting and racquet sports. Partial
Achilles tendon tears are also common among middle and long
distance runners. Achilles tendon ruptures are most likely to
occur to middle age athletes who have not been training or who
have been doing relatively little training. It is sometimes
difficult to distinguish between Achilles tendinosis and a
partial Achilles tendon tear. Consult a physician to be sure.
For more information on these and other Achilles tendon
injuries see: Injuries. |
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Treating
Injuries
Treatment for Achilles tendinosis
includes: relative rest, muscle strengthening, physical
therapies (i.e. ultrasound, laser photostimulation, electrical
stimulation), and ice. Treatment for an
Achilles rupture includes complete immobilization, or in the
most severe cases: surgery. Consult a physician to be sure.
For more information on treating these and other Achilles
tendon injuries see: Treating
Injuries. |
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Specialists
A large number of researchers,
scientists, doctors, sports trainers and physical therapists
have practices that include the diagnosis, treatment, and
rehabilitation of Achilles tendon injuries. A select number of
these specialists whose education and practice have made them
Achilles tendon experts are listed under Specialists.
Footwear
Correct footwear can be one of the
keys to preventing, recovering from, and preventing the
reoccurrence of, Achilles tendon injuries. Incorrect footwear
can cause or exacerbate Achilles tendon injuries. Selecting
the right shoe or sneaker in terms of cushioning, arch height,
and pronation is always beneficial. Some people experience
a tremendous temporary benefit from a little extra padding or
cushioning under the heel. The temporary heel padding reduces
the length of Achilles tendon stretching made with each step
or stride.
Many find motion control (anti-pronation) shoes helpful.
Others require custom made: shoe inserts (orthotics),
shoes, or sport shoes - designed specifically for the unique
requirements of an individual’s feet and activities. In
extreme cases a brace may be required to immobilize an injured
Achilles tendon. For more information on shoes, sports shoes,
inserts, cushions, orthotics and braces that may be beneficial
to Achilles tendons see: Footwear.
Research
Researchers in science, medicine,
sports, and physical therapy have studied the Achilles tendon.
The information presented on AchillesTendon.com is
based on these studies. To review the results and
conclusions of Achilles tendon research see: Research.
In
The News
For a sampling of recent
Achilles tendon news stories, see In
The News..
Real
Tendon, Mythical Hero
The Achilles tendon is named after
Achilles: the ancient Greek hero of the Trojan War. Achilles
was invulnerable except for one spot on his heel. After many
adventures and victories he was killed by an arrow shot into
his heel. As a result of the Achilles legend, the expression
Achilles heel came to mean a fatal vulnerability, and the
tendon connecting the heel to the calf became known as the
Achilles tendon. For more information on Achilles the mythical
hero, see: Achilles.
Other
Names
In addition to Achilles heel, the
Achilles tendon is also known as the heel cord, heel
tendon, and calcenean tendon.
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Disclaimer and
Copyright
The material on
AchillesTendon.com is for informational purposes only; it does not
constitute medical or physical therapy advice. For medical advice,
consult a physician. For physical therapy advice, consult a physical
therapist. All rights reserved. No portion of this site may be
copied without the prior written consent of AchillesTendon.com or
its owner: Griffin Global Systems © 2004-2006.
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