Achilles Tendon injury

What is the Achilles Tendon?

The Achilles tendon is a tough band of fibrous tissue that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone (calcaneus). The gastrocnemius and soleus muscles (calf muscles) unite into one band of tissue, which becomes the Achilles tendon at the low end of the calf. The Achilles tendon then inserts into the calcaneus (heel bone). The Achilles tendon is the largest and strongest tendon in the body. 

Anatomically it has a centralised tendon and a superficial paratendon that acts to lubricate the slide of the tendon and “feeds” the tendon nutrition / blood. 

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How is it commonly injured?

• Acute tear- often feels like “being shot in the calf” 

• Overuse - many and varied reasons for the overuse of the tendon 

  • • Biomechanics - poor 

    • Altered load - either too much from what you are use to or too little (tendons like to be used)

    • Compression

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Classification and Signs and Symptoms of this injury

The spectrum of Achilles tendon disorders and overuse injuries ranges from:

• inflammation of the peritendinous tissue (peritendinitis, paratendinopathy), 

• structural degeneration of the tendon (tendinosis, tendinopathy), 

• insertional disorders (retrocalcaneal bursitis and insertional tendinopathy) 

• tendon rupture/tear

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Currently management techniques

• Techniques vary based on the injury classification/diagnosis

• Most medical literature indicates a multimodal combination approach with the following included

  • RICE

  • Physical therapy

  • Strengthening 

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