How to Replace a Ruptured Achilles Tendon

The Achilles tendon is the strongest and thickest tendon in the body and connects the calf muscles to the heel. It is most commonly ruptured in middle-aged men in poor shape who play tennis or any other sport that requires sudden sprints and stops. Almost always surgery will be required to replace a ruptured Achilles tendon, as it is impossible to restore full strength and function of the leg otherwise. The best way to prevent your Achilles tendon from being ruptured is to stay in general good health and shape. Always make sure you warm up sufficiently, and stretch your calves and leg muscles. If it gets injured, address it immediately to avoid possible full rupture.

Instructions

Approach

• 1

  Find a physician who can diagnose you as soon as you injure your Achilles tendon. It is important that your injury is correctly diagnosed as the treatment you will undergo to heal it is different for partially (tear) or fully ruptured tendons versus tendinitis or tendinosis. When you have a tear or full rupture, you need to immediately immobilize your leg. In the most severe cases, you will need immediate surgery. With tendinosis or tendinitis, you only need to abstain from the activity that caused your injury for a week or so depending on the severity of it.

• 2

  Determine the severity of your ruptured Achilles tendon and whether you are a good candidate for surgery. Due to medical conditions, being very inactive or age, you may not be and will have to make do with non-operative treatments to heal it. According to the Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy, "For these patients, we use a specially designed boot which positions the foot correctly and takes the pressure and tension off the muscle and tendon." You can walk with this boot while safely healing your tendon.

• 3

  Follow the physical therapy program designed for you after restructuring your tendon. Both surgical and non-surgical patients will have to undergo extensive physical therapy for months after healing. It is important that you do everything as recommended if you expect to be fully functional afterward.