The Best Sports Injury Doctor for Treating Achilles Tendon Rupture

The Achilles tendon is an important tendon in the leg, as it allows the foot to move easily upward or downward and makes walking possible without obstacles. If this tendon is ruptured, leg movement and the person’s ability to walk smoothly are affected. This rupture or tear usually occurs near the heel, about two and a half inches above it. Treating an Achilles tendon rupture requires proper treatment according to the medical condition, and surgical intervention by the best orthopedic doctor is considered the last solution.

Causes of Achilles Tendon Rupture
As for the causes of Achilles tendon rupture, it is mostly due to poor blood supply to that area, which makes any trauma or pressure lead to tendon rupture with difficulty healing spontaneously. The most common situations that expose a person to rupture of this tendon are as follows:

  • Sudden and severe fall.

  • Falling into a hole without noticing.

  • Practicing sports that involve repetitive jumping movements, as even a minor mistake or collision may affect the Achilles tendon.

  • Obesity, which puts severe pressure on the Achilles tendon.

  • The rupture is most common in people between thirty and forty years old.

  • Injection with steroid medication to relieve pain and inflammation in the ankle joint, which may cause weakness in the leg tendons, especially the Achilles tendon.

  • Taking antibiotics to treat a disease that may leave side effects increasing the likelihood of tendon rupture.

Symptoms of Achilles Tendon Rupture
There are several symptoms, even if they do not all appear together, that indicate an Achilles tendon rupture, as follows:

  • Abnormal thickening of the tendon indicating a problem.

  • Severe pain when performing physical activity or exercise.

  • Pain appears clearly in the back of the leg near the heel.

  • Pain worsens with any movement if the patient’s condition is bad.

  • Inability to bend or straighten the leg smoothly as in normal condition.

  • Morning stiffness in the affected tendon.

  • Some noticeable bony prominences on the heel bone.

Treatment of Achilles Tendon Without Surgery
There are non-surgical treatments that can be used to treat the Achilles tendon in cases that do not require intervention by a specialized orthopedic doctor, as the following can be relied upon if the damage is a partial rupture of this tendon:

  • The patient should take adequate rest and sleep, avoiding stress and anxiety.

  • Apply ice packs to the tendon rupture area regularly to reduce swelling and pain.

  • Use drug therapy consisting of antibiotics and appropriate painkillers.

  • Use a medical splint in some cases for a month or more depending on the patient’s condition.

  • Physiotherapy sessions to repair the rupture, strengthen the leg, improve movement, and enhance walking.

In the case of a complete rupture, ice packs are also used, then the necessity of surgery is determined, followed by a splint and appropriate physiotherapy sessions with a sports injury doctor for no less than six months.

After Achilles Tendon Surgery
After the sports injury orthopedic doctor performs Achilles tendon surgery, the patient needs an appropriate recovery period, during which the operated foot is placed in a splint for a certain time, then replaced with another splint, and finally with a removable splint. Gradually, the foot improves with time, rest, healthy nutrition, avoiding extra pressure on the tendon, physiotherapy, and appropriate rehabilitation programs. Over time, the tendon regains strength and the foot movement becomes safer and smoother.

Duration of Treatment for Achilles Tendon Rupture
The treatment period for an Achilles tendon rupture depends on the type of treatment. If the doctor uses surgery, then postoperative symptoms such as swelling, pain, and tendon healing require about a month, and with physiotherapy and following the doctor’s instructions, complete recovery occurs after several months.

Physiotherapy After Achilles Tendon Surgery
Any patient who underwent Achilles tendon surgery is in urgent need of physiotherapy after the operation to rehabilitate the foot and speed up recovery. Physiotherapy sessions strengthen the tendon, make foot movement easier, and reduce pain. Through physiotherapy exercises, the patient uses the foot in a way that does not increase pressure on the joint and tendon