The Achilles tendon connects the heel bone to the calf muscles. It is a strong and thick tendon that is involved in pointing the foot downward. It helps a person to walk, run, jump and stand on the toes. However, the Achilles tendon can become tight and overworked making it susceptible to injury. One such injury is a tear in the tendon. It is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of a tear so that a person can seek early treatment. If a tear is not treated properly, the tendon can rupture and may require surgery.
Pain
If a person develops a tear in your Achilles tendon, he may experience pain in the back of the ankle or heel. The pain may be worse when pointing the toes, trying to stand on the toes or when stretching the heel or calf area. This may come on gradually or suddenly. In some cases, the person experiencing an Achilles tendon tear may hear or feel a popping sound at the time of the injury. At first, he may just feel pain during specific activities; but find that the pain subsides when he stops the activity. If left untreated the pain will become worse during all activities.
Swelling
The tendon may be tender to the touch and become inflamed. There might also be swelling around the area of the tendon. The range of motion in the ankle may become limited. The calf and heel area may become stiff after periods of inactivity.
Severe Symptoms
If the tear goes untreated, the tendon can rupture. It is recommended to see a doctor right away if a person notices severe pain and swelling near the heel, an inability to point the foot down or to push off when walking and an inability to bear weight on the affected foot.
