The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. Overuse of the tendon through exercise, accidental injury such as falls that hyper-extend the foot, or other activities that overstretch the Achilles like running uphill, climbing or jumping, can cause it to rupture. Treatment of an Achilles tendon rupture typically involves months of physical therapy along with non-surgical treatment such as casting and/or surgery.
Non-surgical Treatment
According to the Doctors of USC website, several first aid treatments should be administered immediately following an Achilles tendon rupture: First, rest and elevate the affected foot to avoid further injury and reduce swelling. Next, you should treat the injury with ice and wrap the foot in a compression bandage, again to minimize inflammation and discomfort. Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen may also help to limit swelling and pain immediately and in the weeks after the rupture.
According to the Mayo Clinic, one of the most common non-surgical treatments of an Achilles tendon rupture is casting or booting--a procedure in which a walking boot/cast, brace or splint is fitted to the injured foot to take pressure off of the injured tendon and give it time to heal. While this approach is less risky than surgery, recovery can be extremely long, and the risk of re-injuring the tendon is higher than with surgery.
Surgical Treatment
Minimally-invasive surgery can repair the ruptured Achilles tendon and allow for a faster healing process. Through a small incision on the back of the lower leg, doctors repair the torn tendon, typically making it stronger than it was prior to the rupture in an effort to prevent future re-injury. According to the Hospital for Special Surgery, the main risks of surgery are infection and a breakdown of skin around the surgical site. While surgery provides faster healing than non-surgical approaches, the recovery period is long and intensive, requiring extensive rehabilitation and motion exercises to rebuild foot and ankle strength and range of motion.
Physical Therapy
Whether you receive non-surgical or surgical treatment, you will also typically need 4 to 6 months of rehabilitation to strengthen and increase flexibility in the injured tendon and leg. Rehabilitation usually involves a variety of physical therapy exercises. According to the Hospital for Special Surgery, some of these exercises involve the entire body and are designed to increase your range of motion, while more advanced weight-bearing exercises that make use of crutches or a walker challenge you to slowly and safely rebuild muscle strength.
