Achilles Tendon Injuries

The Achilles tendon is the fibrous tissue that connects the heel to the calf muscles and is the strongest tendon in the entire body. The tendon is pulled when the calf muscles are contracted which pushes down the foot, therefore it is central to such basic movements as walking, running, jumping and standing on your toes. The strength of the Achilles tendon does not mean that it is not easily injured, however.

A stretched or torn Achilles tendon can happen without warning and cause extreme pain. The most common injury is tendonitis where overuse of the tendon weakens it until it suddenly ruptures. Symptoms vary from stiffness and soreness in ongoing, degenerative tendonitis to sudden pain and a popping sound followed by complete (but temporary) incapacitation in the cases of a ruptured Achilles tendon.

By far the most common cause of Achilles tendon damage is in sports injuries, either in cases where the athlete did not warm up or down properly or was unused to the extent of the exertion, or in sports where there is fast acceleration. Generally, the treatment involves complete rest for at least a week while the inflammation and pain subsides; however more severe cases will need ongoing physiotherapy and possibly even surgery to repair a deep tear. If you have suffered damage to your Achilles tendon and it was not your fault, you may be able to claim for any loss of earnings, medical treatment and ongoing physiotherapy, depending on your particular case. Talk to one of our expert team for more information.