Reasons for Needing Achilles Tendon Repair
An achilles tendon is more than the Greek warrior Achilles’ only weakness. The achilles tendon is a fibrous band of tissue that links the muscles in your calf to your heel. This tendon is very important when it comes to walking, running, or jumping and endures constant stress when completing everyday tasks or physical activities. If this tendon is under a lot of stress and tension that is resulting in pain or irritation, this usually means you are suffering from tendonitis. However, if this pain is so immense that your heel begins to swell and you are unable to walk you most likely are suffering from a ruptured achilles tendon. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact our specialists at Cherrywood Foot Care for an achilles tendon repair on Long Island.
Risk Factors for Achilles Tendon Tear or Rupture
An achilles tendon can be ruptured and torn by almost anyone. However, they are most common in sport athletes. This is due to the fact that they are constantly putting their body under immense stress and physical exhaustion where your muscles and tendons can become irritated or inflamed. Some common factors that can result in needing an achilles tendon repair include the following:
- Age: The most common age group to rupture your achilles tendon is between the ages of 30 to 40.
- Sex: Men are five times more likely than women to rupture their achilles tendon.
- Recreational Sports: Sport where strenuous running, jumping, and requiring sudden starts and stops are more likely to cause achilles tendon rupture or tears such as; soccer, tennis, and basketball.
- Steroid Injections: If you are used to recurring pain in your ankle doctors usually treat the joint with steroid injections. However, these injections can weaken tendons in the region such as the achilles and have been associated with causing Achilles tendon ruptures.
- Obesity: Having excess body weight will in turn cause excess stress and tension on your tendons and ligaments which can cause them to weaken and result in an achilles tendon tear.
- Certain antibiotics: Fluoroquinolone antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro) or levofloxacin (Levaquin), have been known to increase the risk of Achilles tendon rupture or tears.
- Bone Spurs: Having bone spurs meaning, a bony growth that develops on the edge of a bone, can rub up against the achilles tendon causing a rupture.
- Not Stretching Before Exercise or Sports Activity: Having the calf muscle and the entire leg be tight and not stretched out before performance adds immense tension to the achilles tendon which can cause rupture.
Achilles Tendon Repair on Long Island
All the previously mentioned risk factors that can cause an achilles tendon rupture and injury will result in needing an achilles tendon repair. Here at Cherrywood Foot Care, we offer achilles tendon rupture repair on Long Island. Our main focus is an examination of the area to determine the severity of the injury through X-ray and MRI scanning. If the achilles tendon is confirmed to be ruptured or torn our recommended course of treatment is surgery. Following surgery, our podiatry practice offers rehabilitation services to strengthen your foot, ankle, and the achilles tendon to optimal health.
Contact Us At Cherrywood Foot Care!
If you believe you are in need of an achilles tendon repair Long Island, contact us today at Cherrywood Foot Care. Our focus is to restore you to your optimal and best self! Click or call 516-826-9000 today to schedule an appointment.