When is achilles healed

Cause Achilles tendinopathy is most often caused by: Overuse or repeated movements during sports, work, or other activities. In sports, a change in how long, intensely, or often you exercise can cause microtears in the tendon.

These tears are unable to heal quickly and will eventually cause pain. A change in your environment, such as going from a flat surface to a hill or from a dirt road to a paved road, can also cause these tears. Injury from repeated push-offs or a stop-and-go motion. These injuries are common in such activities as running, basketball, tennis, or ballet dancing. Achilles tendon rupture is most often caused by: Sudden, forceful motion that stresses the calf muscle.

This can happen during an intense athletic activity or even during simple running or jumping, especially in middle-aged adults. A rupture most often occurs in sports such as basketball, racquet sports including tennis , soccer, and softball.

Overstretching the tendon during any activity when the tendon is already damaged because of Achilles tendinopathy or another condition. Symptoms Symptoms of Achilles tendinopathy may include: Pain in the back of the heel, in the Achilles tendon area. Pain may be mild or severe. Swelling may occur. Tenderness in the Achilles tendon area. Tenderness may be more noticeable in the morning. Stiffness that goes away as the tendon warms up with use.

Decreased strength and movement, or a feeling of sluggishness in the leg. Symptoms of an Achilles tendon rupture may include: A sudden, sharp pain that feels like a direct hit to the Achilles tendon. There may be a pop when the rupture occurs. This may be followed by swelling and bruising. Heel pain. It may be severe. Not being able to go on tiptoe with the hurt leg. What Happens Achilles tendinopathy Achilles tendinopathy starts with repeated small tears in the tendon. Achilles tendon tear or rupture An Achilles tendon can partially tear or completely tear rupture.

Other Achilles tendon problems Other conditions can affect the Achilles tendon area. They include: Achilles paratenonitis. This is also called Achilles peritendinitis. Retrocalcaneal bursitis. Insertional Achilles tendinopathy. What Increases Your Risk Things that increase your risk for Achilles tendinopathy or rupture include: Sports and physical activity. Overuse and repeated movements can cause injury and weaken the Achilles tendon.

Playing sports increases the risk of an injury. Activities at work such as in construction and at home such as gardening may also increase your risk. Sports training errors. Not warming up before running or other activities or suddenly changing your training program can increase your risk for injury. Increasing your distance, running uphill more often, or changing your ground surfaces too quickly can increase your risk.

Decreased flexibility may also increase the risk of tendon problems. Most cases of Achilles tendinopathy or rupture occur in people older than If you are very heavy, you have a greater risk. Being male. Men are more likely than women to have an Achilles tendon injury. You may increase your risk if you wear shoes that are worn out, that do not support your feet, or that do not cushion your heel.

Other risk factors for an Achilles tendon rupture include: A previous injury or rupture to the Achilles tendon. Corticosteroid injections in the Achilles tendon. They can weaken the tendon. Long-term use of quinolone antibiotics.

Quinolones include ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin. Having osteoarthritis, gout, or rheumatoid arthritis. When should you call your doctor?

Call your doctor right away if you think you have an Achilles tendon problem at or above the back of your ankle and: The back of your heel and ankle are very painful. You felt a sharp pain like a direct hit to the Achilles tendon. You heard a pop in your Achilles tendon when you were injured. You aren't able to walk comfortably. Your Achilles tendon area has begun to swell. You have signs of damage to the nerves or blood vessels.

Signs include numbness, tingling, a pins-and-needles feeling in your foot, and pale or bluish skin. Watchful waiting Watchful waiting is a period of time during which you and your doctor observe your symptoms or condition without using medical treatment.

Who to see Health professionals who can diagnosis and treat an Achilles tendon problem include: Emergency medical specialists , for sudden and severe acute Achilles problems. Family medicine physicians or internists who are familiar with foot and ankle injuries. Podiatrists who are familiar with sports injuries.

Sports medicine specialists. Orthopedic surgeons , particularly for an Achilles rupture. Exams and Tests Most doctors diagnose an Achilles tendon problem through a medical history and physical exam.

Other tests may be done to clarify a diagnosis or to prepare for surgery. These tests include: Ultrasound. It may be used to check whether there is a rupture of the tendon or signs of tendinopathy.

X-rays , to check the heel bone. MRI scan to check the tendon for signs of tendinopathy or a tendon rupture. An MRI is also used to evaluate the heel bone. Treatment Overview Early treatment usually results in better healing. Achilles tendinopathy To treat Achilles tendinopathy: Use home treatment. This includes resting your lower leg and foot, stretching the area, wearing cushioned shoes or other orthotics , and switching sports or modifying how you do sports that may have caused the problem.

Reduce pain by using ice or taking over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , as directed. Follow any physical therapy that your doctor has prescribed.

This may include stretching and strengthening exercises, deep massage, heat, or ultrasound. Achilles tendon rupture Treatment for an Achilles tendon rupture includes: Surgery followed by rehabilitation rehab. This is the most common treatment for younger adults. Immobilizing your leg, followed by rehab.

This prevents movement of the lower leg and ankle. It allows the ends of the Achilles tendon to reattach and heal. What to think about Don't smoke or use other tobacco products. If you have an Achilles tendon rupture, your decision about whether to have surgery will depend in part on your: Age and activity level.

For example, if you are an older adult who doesn't do activities that may cause another rupture and who doesn't want the added risk of surgery, you may choose to use a cast or similar device. Medical condition. If you have another medical condition—such as diabetes or heart or lung disease—that raises the risks associated with surgery, you may choose to use a cast or similar device.

Time since injury. Over time, the torn ends of the tendon shorten and pull away from each other. If they are too far apart, the surgery is less likely to work. If surgery is chosen, many surgeons will wait a few days for the swelling to go down, then do the surgery as soon as possible.

Prevention Most Achilles tendon injuries occur during sports. To help prevent injury, try to: Warm up. Before any sport or intense activity, gradually warm up your body by doing 5 to 10 minutes of walking or biking. Cool down and stretch. After intense activity, gradually cool down with about 5 minutes of easy jogging, walking, or biking, and 5 minutes of stretches.

Avoid any sport or intense activity that you are not in condition to do. However, it is crucial to note that some people can still walk on a completely torn Achilles tendon. One notable example of this was Kobe Bryant who walked to the free-throw line, shot and made two free-throws after tearing his Achilles.

A qualified foot and ankle specialist should assess the injury with specific examination protocols to diagnose an Achilles tendon tear and to assess its severity. Though some will walk on a torn Achilles, they will likely have extreme difficulty pushing off from the foot that is injured. Also, when an Achilles tendon ruptures due to a sudden injury, it can deliver the sensation of being kicked or hit in the back of the leg. That sensation can make it extremely difficult to walk on the injured leg, especially immediately after the injury has occurred.

Similarly, complete tears or ruptures should be evaluated and managed by a physician. Whether non-operative or operative treatment is selected for complete tears, a physician will provide guidance and management throughout the rehabilitation process.

So, while some Achilles tendon injuries can heal without surgical intervention, they ALL warrant proper medical care, ideally from a foot and ankle specialist. Though the recovery timeline for healing from an Achilles tendon tear can seem daunting, many people make a full recovery and can return to playing the sports and living the lives they love. The quickest and safest way to that end is visiting a physician who has experience diagnosing and treating these injury types because he or she will help you get on the road to recovery.

Skip to content. In physical therapy, you will learn exercises to make your calf muscles stronger and your Achilles tendon more flexible. When you stretch your calf muscles, do so slowly. Also, do not bounce or use too much force when you use your leg. After you heal, you are at greater risk for injuring your Achilles tendon again.

You will need to:. Also call your provider if you have questions or concerns that cannot wait until your next visit. Ankle and foot. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Extensor and flexor tendon injuries in the hand, wrist, and foot. Updated by: C.

Editorial team. Achilles tendon rupture - aftercare. If your Achilles tendon stretches too far, it can tear or rupture. If this happens, you may: Hear a snapping, cracking, or popping sound and feel a sharp pain in the back of your leg or ankle Have trouble moving your foot to walk or go up stairs Have difficulty standing on your toes Have bruising or swelling in your leg or foot Feel like the back of your ankle was hit with a bat.

About Your Injury. Most likely your injury occurred when you: Suddenly pushed your foot off the ground, to go from walking to running, or to running uphill Tripped and fell, or had another accident Played a sport like tennis or basketball, with a lot of stopping and sharp turns Most injuries can be diagnosed during a physical exam.

A partial tear means at least some of the tendon is still OK.