Achilles tendon contracture is a shortening of the Achilles tendon that causes foot pain and limited ankle movement. It can be caused by conditions like cerebral palsy, chronic tendinitis, spinal cord injury, stroke, genetics, birth defects or foot deformities from diabetes or clubfoot. Symptoms include pain in the Achilles tendon and an inability to flatten the foot without bending the knees. Treatment options include heel raises, stretching exercises, bracing, casting, or surgery to lengthen the tendon if conservative treatments do not provide relief. Surgical lengthening cuts the tendon to allow it to stretch and heal in an elongated position.
Achilles tendon contracture is a shortening of the Achilles tendon that causes foot pain and limited ankle movement. It can be caused by conditions like cerebral palsy, chronic tendinitis, spinal cord injury, stroke, genetics, birth defects or foot deformities from diabetes or clubfoot. Symptoms include pain in the Achilles tendon and an inability to flatten the foot without bending the knees. Treatment options include heel raises, stretching exercises, bracing, casting, or surgery to lengthen the tendon if conservative treatments do not provide relief. Surgical lengthening cuts the tendon to allow it to stretch and heal in an elongated position.
Achilles tendon contracture is a shortening of the Achilles tendon that causes foot pain and limited ankle movement. It can be caused by conditions like cerebral palsy, chronic tendinitis, spinal cord injury, stroke, genetics, birth defects or foot deformities from diabetes or clubfoot. Symptoms include pain in the Achilles tendon and an inability to flatten the foot without bending the knees. Treatment options include heel raises, stretching exercises, bracing, casting, or surgery to lengthen the tendon if conservative treatments do not provide relief. Surgical lengthening cuts the tendon to allow it to stretch and heal in an elongated position.
CONTRACTURE BY: AMIRA T. MACAPINTAL WHAT IS ACHILLES TENDON CONTRACTURE?
Achilles tendon contracture is a
shortening of the Achilles tendon (tendon calcaneus or heel cord), which causes foot pain and strain, with limited ankle dorsiflexion. CAUSES • Cerebral palsy • Chronic tendinitis • Spinal cord injury • Stroke • Genetics • Birth defects • Foot deformity caused by diabetes or clubfoot SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS • Extensive pain in the Achilles tendon • Foot remaining in a bent position causing flat foot, forcing the knees to bend • Abnormal toes position • Discomfort at the back of the feet • Poor posture • Muscle spasticity, a muscle control disorder characterized by stiff muscles TREATMENT Achilles tendon contracture is treated conservatively by raising the inside heel of the shoe (in the reflex type); gradually lowering the heels of shoes (sudden lowering can aggravate the problem), and stretching exercises, if the cause is high heels; or using support braces or casting to prevent foot drop in a paralyzed patient. Alternative therapy includes using wedged plaster casts or stretching the tendon by manipulation. Analgesics may be given to relieve pain. SURGERY Achilles tendon lengthening (ATL) is a surgical procedure that aims to stretch the Achilles tendon to allow a person to walk flat- footed without a bend in the knee, or to bring relief to chronic pain. This procedure elongates a contracted Achilles tendon by making small cuts on the tendons at the back of the ankle. As the wounds heal, the tendons elongate. Tenotomy is a surgical procedure that allows further stretching by cutting the tendon. After surgery, a short leg cast maintains the foot in 90-degree dorsiflexion for 6 weeks. Some surgeons allow partial weight bearing on a walking cast after 2 weeks. ACHILLES TENDON ACHILLES TENDON CONTRACTURE LENGTHENING SURGERY