What is the Achilles tendon?   
It’s the largest strongest tendon in the human body.  
A fibrous cord that attaches the calve muscle of the lower leg to the heel.  
You can feel it at the back of your ankle.  
It’s critical to walking, running, and jumping.  

   

How do we injure it?  
The most common situation is during an active sport – rugby, soccer, basketball, etc.  
Happens with forceful movement sprinting, jumping. 
Quick stops or change in direction, direct trauma to the tendon. 
For older people, the tendon can weaken and rupture. 

   

What are the symptoms?  
A sudden sharp pain back of lower leg or heel.  
There’s often a popping or snapping sound.  
People are unable to walk or stand on tiptoes, and there’s swelling or bruising lower back of leg.  
You can sometimes see or feel a gap or indent in tendon.  

   

What do you do about it?  
You need diagnosis: a doctor will examine you and often order an ultrasound or MRI.  
Non-surgical: try and get to heal up on your own – only applies for a partial tear or a ‘non athlete’. 
Often put in special moon boot for up to 2 months  
Orthopaedic Surgeon: For a complete rupture, athletes, younger healthier patients – no surgery fails.  
Often within two weeks of injury, they stitch the tendon back together  
3-6 months of recovery and physio involved to rehab and strengthen the tendon and get moving again. 

  

LISTEN ABOVE 

What is the Achilles tendon?&nbsp; &nbsp;
<ul>
<li>It’s the largest strongest tendon in the human body. &nbsp;</li>
<li>A fibrous cord that attaches the calve muscle of the lower leg to the heel. &nbsp;</li>
<li>You can feel it at the back of your ankle. &nbsp;</li>
<li>It’s critical to walking, running, and jumping. &nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp; &nbsp;
How do we injure it? &nbsp;
<ul>
<li>The most common situation is during an active sport – rugby, soccer, basketball, etc. &nbsp;</li>
<li>Happens with forceful movement sprinting, jumping.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Quick stops or change in direction, direct trauma to the tendon.&nbsp;</li>
<li>For older people, the tendon can weaken and rupture.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp; &nbsp;
What are the symptoms? &nbsp;
<ul>
<li>A sudden sharp pain back of lower leg or heel. &nbsp;</li>
<li>There’s often a popping or snapping sound. &nbsp;</li>
<li>People are unable to walk or stand on tiptoes, and there’s swelling or bruising lower back of leg. &nbsp;</li>
<li>You can sometimes see or feel a gap or indent in tendon. &nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp; &nbsp;
What do you do about it? &nbsp;
<ul>
<li>You need diagnosis: a doctor will examine you and often order an ultrasound or MRI. &nbsp;</li>
<li>Non-surgical: try and get to heal up on your own – only applies for a partial tear or a ‘non athlete’.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Often put in special moon boot for up to 2 months &nbsp;</li>
<li>Orthopaedic Surgeon: For a complete rupture, athletes, younger healthier patients – no surgery fails. &nbsp;</li>
<li>Often within two weeks of injury, they stitch the tendon back together &nbsp;</li>
<li>3-6 months of recovery and physio involved to rehab and strengthen the tendon and get moving again.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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Jack Tame’s crisp perspective, style and enthusiasm makes for refreshing and entertaining Saturday morning radio on Newstalk ZB. News, sport, books, music, gardens and celebrities – what better way to spend your Saturdays?

Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Bryan Betty: Rupturing the Achilles tendon

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/4aed9b97-a4cb-4367-8556-b2b5018877d5/transcript