What is an Achilles tendon tear?

It is a partial or complete tear of the fibers in the Achilles tendon.

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What is the Achilles tendon?

It's the tendon of the calf muscle that attaches to the heel at the back of the foot.

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What are the causes of an Achilles tendon rupture?

In general, Achilles tendon ruptures are caused by a traumatic event such as:

• A quick and sudden change of direction (running, tennis, badminton)
• A quick and sudden acceleration (sprinting, running)
• Landing from a jump without properly absorbing the impact

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What are the symptoms of an Achilles tendon rupture?

The most common symptoms are:

• Pain that appears suddenly after a sudden movement such as a change of direction, acceleration, or jump
• Feeling of being hit in the calf at the time of the trauma
• Mild to severe pain and difficulty putting weight on the foot
• Possible swelling and bruising around the tendon or calf
• If the tendon is completely torn, you will be unable to point your foot.

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How to diagnose an Achilles tendon rupture?

Diagnosis is possible through a review of your symptom history and a clinical examination.

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When to consult a physiotherapist for an Achilles tendon rupture?

You should consult a physiotherapist if you have symptoms as described above or if your doctor has already ruled out any other cause that may be responsible for your pain.

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You do not need to see a doctor before consulting a physiotherapist. If your condition requires you to see a doctor, your physiotherapist will be able to tell you.

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What are the physiotherapy treatments for an Achilles tendon rupture?

Your physiotherapist will perform a complete assessment to determine the severity of the tear and any deficits observed by evaluating the following:

• Your joint mobility
• The gliding of your nerves
• The quality of your movements
• Your strength and stability

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Based on the assessment results, your physiotherapist will:

• Mobilize your joints, muscles, and nerves to reduce pain and improve movement.
• Provide you with specific exercises to retrain the strength and stability of your foot.
• Give you specific exercises to learn how to properly control your movements.
• Teach you how to properly manage your daily activities and hobbies to optimize healing
• Give you advice for your posture and movements.

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What to do at home for an Achilles tendon rupture?

As with any traumatic injury, follow the PEACE and LOVE principles.

Read the blog post on PEACE and LOVE (coming soon), and then read here for advice specific to Achilles tendon tears.

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PEACE and LOVE tips specific to Achilles tendon tears:

(make sure you have read the blog post that explains the PEACE and LOVE steps in detail)

For C = Compression:

Use a compressive bandage or tape to wrap your ankle and tendon.

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For L = Load:

Start walking and putting weight on the leg gradually, without significantly increasing the pain.

Wait until you no longer limp before increasing the duration of your walks.

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For V = Vascularisation:

Light to moderate, pain-free cardio activity speeds up healing. For an Achilles tendon tear, you can:

• Do stationary cycling without pain
• Swim without pain

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If you don't see any improvement after 10 days, you should consult a physiotherapist.

If you are a runner, refer to the blog post on running (link coming soon) for specific running tips.

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To learn more...

You can listen to the podcast PARLE-MOI DE SANTÉ created by one of our physiotherapists, Alexis Gougeon.

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Episode #1 discusses the prevention and treatment of running injuries.

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Find the episode on YouTube:

Click below to listen to episodes on podcast platforms:

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Sources

• Park SH, Lee HS, Young KW, Seo SG. Treatment of Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture. Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery. 2020 Mar 1;12(1):1-8.

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