Your Achilles tendon is the tendon that runs from the heel bone and up the calf. This tendon can tear and cause a large amount of pain in your leg or foot depending on where the tear occurred. It can cause a problem for you with walking and doing just about anything. If you've torn your Achilles tendon, you should get to your physician right away for a checkup. If you have a torn tendon, treatment is going to be needed. Read on for what you can expect with treatment and tips to help prevent this type of injury again.

Surgery

If your tendon was completely torn, you may need to have surgery to have the tendon repaired. The tendon is stretched back out and reattached in the leg. It can take time to heal completely afterward, which may require you to have some time off from your job depending on the type of job you have and what duties you have at your job. You may end up with a cast or a soft cast and crutches or a scooter so you don't put any pressure on that leg/foot at all.

Therapy

If your tendon wasn't completely torn, therapy may be used instead of surgery. The type of therapy you need will depend on your injury. You may also need to wear a soft cast or stay off of your leg entirely depending on how severe the injury was. Be sure to listen to your physician about what is needed to help heal your injured leg properly and to help prevent it from being injured again or prevent it from tearing altogether.

Prevention Tips

To help prevent this type of injury in the future, be sure to stretch your legs and feet before doing any type of sport or exercise. Press one foot into the wall while keeping the other one behind. Press your weight into the foot that is against the wall. Then repeat on the other side. You can also do calf raises to help stretch your tendon and the tendons in the feet as well. Toe touches are another way to stretch your tendon and your muscles as well. 

Another way to help prevent this type of injury is to lose weight. If you are overweight, it can cause strain in all areas of the body. Losing weight and getting in shape can help prevent injury as well.

If you have injured your calf/heel and suspect it is an Achilles tendon tear or injury, get to your physician right away to have this checked out so you can receive the proper treatment and get back to living without pain. Contact a clinic like Carolina Foot &  Ankle Specialists for more information. 

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