1.

0 Definition of Injury

Achilles (uh-KILL-eez) tendon rupture is an injury that affects the back of your lower leg. It
mainly occurs in people playing recreational sports, but it can happen to anyone. The Achilles
tendon is a strong fibrous cord that connects the muscles in the back of your calf to your heel
bone. If you overstretch your Achilles tendon, it can tear (rupture) completely or just partially.
Rupture typically occurs as a result of a sudden bending up of the foot when the calf muscle is
engaged, direct trauma, or long-standing tendonitis. Other risk factors include the use of
fluoroquinolones, a significant change in exercise, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or corticosteroid
use. Diagnosis is typically based on symptoms and examination and supported by medical
imaging. If your Achilles tendon ruptures, you might hear a pop, followed by an immediate sharp
pain in the back of your ankle and lower leg that is likely to affect your ability to walk properly.
Surgery is often performed to repair the rupture. For many people, however, nonsurgical
treatment works just as well. Achilles tendon rupture occurs in about 1 per 10,000 people per
year. Males are more commonly affected than females. People in their 30s to 50s are most
commonly affected.

2.0 Mechanism of Injury

There are a lot of ways which an Achilles tendon rupture will happen. One way would be as
shown in the picture to the below. This type is called acute force trauma. Rarely do we see
examples of someone actually cutting the Achilles tendon in normal life

Sudden forced plantar flexion of the foot, unwanted dorsiflexion of the foot, and violent
dorsiflexion of a plantar flexed foot are the most common mechanisms of injury. Other
mechanisms include direct trauma and, less commonly, tendon attrition with or without
tendinosis due to long-term peritenonitis. An Achilles tendon rupture is a traumatic tear of the
Achilles tendon. This is the tendon that connects the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles in the
calf to the heel bone. The injury often results from a noncontact mechanism rather than a direct
blow to the ankle. Examples include abruptly changing directions or immediately sprinting from
a standing position.