[Medical Q&A] Will I become disabled if my tendons are broken?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Han Liqiang, deputy chief physician, Tianjin Third Central Hospital

In martial arts novels, we often see such descriptions: a martial arts master is captured by the villain, and his "big tendon" is cut, and he can no longer practice martial arts. Is this really the case in reality? In fact, the "big tendon" here refers to the Achilles tendon, and a ruptured Achilles tendon does not necessarily lead to disability.

The Achilles tendon is a tendinous structure that transitions from the lower end of the belly of the triceps surae (i.e., the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles) and ends at the calcaneal tuberosity. It is the thickest and largest tendon in the human body and plays an important role in the body's walking, standing, and maintaining balance. Once the Achilles tendon is ruptured, the ankle joint will be weak in dorsiflexion (a form of movement in which the foot is lifted up and the toes move toward the calf), and it will be unable to complete force-generating movements such as running and jumping. Achilles tendon rupture is medically referred to as tendon rupture. The treatment method is to sew the ruptured tendon with strong sutures, and then apply plaster to fix the injured lower limb to avoid limb movement. The rest is to wait for the ruptured tendon to grow back together. Of course, this process takes longer to heal than other tendon ruptures in the body, and the plaster fixation time is also longer (generally 6 to 8 weeks). After the plaster is removed, you can resume ankle joint functional rehabilitation exercises. Although the rehabilitation exercise process is more difficult, as long as you persist, you can basically return to your pre-injury state.