The Achilles tendon is a large, thick tendon that connects your heel bone to the muscles in your lower leg. This tendon is used whenever you walk, run, jump and push off your toes. This tendon can become tight and overworked, leading to injury. If your initial injury is severe enough, or if you ignore symptoms of a strained tendon, the tendon may rupture. A ruptured tendon requires medical attention and will sideline you from your activities for some time.
Surgery
According to the Mayo Clinic, a complete rupture of the Achilles tendon may require surgery. Your surgeon will need to sew the tendon back together. If the rupture is severe, he may need to attach additional surrounding tissue or tendons to help adequately strengthen the area. After surgery, you will need to wear a cast for up to eight weeks. This will be followed by a period of physical therapy so that you can regain use of the leg. The amount of time you are in a cast and the level of physical therapy you need will depend on the severity of the injury and how involved the surgical repair was.
Immobilization
If your rupture is not severe, or you decide against surgery, your doctor may want to immobilize the leg first to see if the tendon will heal itself. You will wear a cast or boot. You may or may not be able to bear weight on the leg for awhile. You will need to avoid certain activities and allow the tendon to heal. However, Mercy Hospital claims that "while it is possible to treat this ruptured tendon without surgery, this is not ideal since the maximum strength of the muscle and tendon rarely returns." However, in some cases, it may be best to start with a conservative approach first. If this fails, then surgery can be tried.
Physical Therapy
In some cases, due to medical conditions, surgery is not an option. When this is the case, a period of physical therapy and exercise can be tried. The NY Physical Therapy & Wellness Center states that "the goal of physical therapy is to improve physical functioning by addressing muscle strength, flexibility, endurance, balance, and coordination." As your tendon is healing, you may need to use a cane or crutch for awhile. In addition, after you complete physical therapy, you will need to develop a lifetime program of exercise and stretching to avoid re-injuring the area. The down side to the non-surgical approach is that you will most likely need a longer period of rehabilitation and you are at a higher risk of tearing the tendon again.
