How does the Achilles tendon become "fragile" during exercise?

I believe that when you watch sports reports, you must have seen news about athletes being injured with "Achilles tendon rupture". Some people call this disease "athlete killer". Yes, after the Achilles tendon ruptures, the athlete's sports career will indeed be affected, but some athletes have also won Olympic championships after repair. What kind of disease is Achilles tendon rupture? Why does the Achilles tendon become very fragile during exercise? Today, let's talk about this topic.

1.What is the Achilles tendon?

The Achilles tendon starts from our triceps surae and ends at the midpoint behind the calcaneal tuberosity. The length of the Achilles tendon of an adult is about 15cm. It is the strongest and longest tendon in the human body. The Achilles tendon connects two major muscles, the soleus and the triceps surae. Its main function is to transfer the power of the muscles to the bones, so that our legs can stretch and rebound. For example, in running and jumping, the Achilles tendon plays an important role. Some people may feel confused. They often hear the word tendon. What exactly does the tendon do? The Achilles tendon is a type of tendon. The tendon is mainly responsible for connecting muscles and bones. It has a certain elasticity and can play a buffering role to protect muscles from injury. When the muscle contracts suddenly, the tendon can absorb and store some energy, and then release this energy at the appropriate time to help the muscle complete more efficient movement. In addition, the tendon can also protect the joints. During high-intensity or sudden activities, the tendon is closely connected to other structures to limit excessive movement of the joints and reduce the risk of sports injuries.

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2. Why does the Achilles tendon rupture? Why is the Achilles tendon so "fragile" during exercise?

Achilles tendon rupture is a disease that many athletes are terrified of, but its occurrence is not accidental, but the result of multiple factors. So, why does the Achilles tendon rupture, and why is the Achilles tendon so "fragile" during exercise? We must understand that the Achilles tendon is a thick fibrous band connecting the calf muscles and the heel of the foot. It is under tremendous pressure during exercise, especially in explosive sports such as running and jumping. The Achilles tendon itself can withstand high-intensity forces, but if the load exceeds its own bearing capacity, the Achilles tendon may tear or rupture. The main cause of Achilles tendon rupture is overuse. Why are athletes the most common group of patients with Achilles tendon rupture? Because long-distance runners, basketball, football, volleyball, high jumpers and other athletes need to use the Achilles tendon frequently in competitions and training, and the intensity is relatively high, which will cause the Achilles tendon to gradually fatigue, accumulate damage, and eventually lead to rupture, especially when they do not get enough rest and recovery. In addition, a sudden increase in force can also cause Achilles tendon rupture. For example, sudden stops or rapid changes in direction during exercise will cause the Achilles tendon to suddenly bear a relatively large force. If this force exceeds the Achilles tendon's tolerance range, it will cause rupture. This is why many experienced athletes also suffer from Achilles tendon ruptures.

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3.Who is prone to Achilles tendon rupture?

It should be pointed out here that it is not only athletes who suffer from Achilles tendon rupture. Athletes usually exercise at a much higher intensity than ordinary people, so athletes are indeed the main group of people who suffer from Achilles tendon rupture. In addition to athletes, physical education teachers, weekend athletes, and the elderly are also more likely to suffer from Achilles tendon rupture. Needless to say, physical education teachers often engage in sports. Weekend athletes refer to people who are busy with work and school during the weekdays and go out for a lot of exercise on weekends. This type of people is also more likely to suffer from Achilles tendon rupture, which is generally related to the failure to do warm-up exercises and the excessive intensity of exercise. Due to age issues, the Achilles tendon of the elderly naturally ages and lacks elasticity, which is also prone to rupture.

4. How to determine whether you have a ruptured Achilles tendon?

When we watch sports games, we often see this situation: after the athlete jumps high or stops and walks suddenly, he suddenly squats down and presses the back of his calf with his hand, shouting "Broken, broken!" to the coach outside the field. That's right, this is the athlete feeling that his Achilles tendon is ruptured. So, what does it feel like or what are the symptoms of Achilles tendon rupture? How can you judge it yourself? In clinical practice, we often hear patients describe it like this: "It feels like my calf was kicked and I felt like the rubber band was broken." The main symptoms of Achilles tendon rupture are weakness and pain, such as lack of strength to walk. Some patients may also have bleeding and swelling, and subcutaneous congestion and bruising can be seen. Generally speaking, the affected side cannot stand on one leg, nor can it tiptoe, and it is difficult to complete actions such as jumping and pushing off the ground. It should be pointed out that many patients can still walk after Achilles tendon rupture, so "whether you can walk" cannot be used to judge whether you have Achilles tendon rupture.

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5.What examinations are needed for Achilles tendon rupture?

When the patient sees the doctor, he needs to explain in detail all the movements and feelings when he was injured, and the doctor will examine the patient. Under normal circumstances, if the triceps are squeezed, the foot can be lifted. If the Achilles tendon is ruptured, it is equivalent to the triceps being unable to control the bones. No matter how it is squeezed, the foot cannot be lifted. In addition, an MRI examination is required to understand the retraction of the Achilles tendon and the distance between the broken ends.

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6.What is the treatment for Achilles tendon rupture?

6.1 Nonsurgical treatment

This approach is suitable for minor ruptures, and can be used to reduce pain and swelling through rest, ice, compression and elevation of the affected limb. In the early stages, plaster or other immobilization devices may be needed to maintain the correct position of the affected limb and promote healing. In addition, some progressive strength training and flexibility exercises as recovery progresses can help promote the recovery of Achilles tendon function.

6.2 Surgical treatment

For severe Achilles tendon ruptures, especially for athletes and patients who want to recover quickly, surgical treatment is generally required. Surgery can directly repair the ruptured Achilles tendon and reconnect the two ends of the rupture. Sometimes other tissues may be needed to strengthen the repair. After the operation, the patient needs to wear a plaster or fixator to protect the repaired Achilles tendon and promote healing. After the operation, the doctor will also recommend the patient to participate in rehabilitation training at the appropriate time, and gradually increase the amount of exercise to restore the function of the Achilles tendon.

7. How can ordinary people prevent Achilles tendon rupture?

7.1 Warm up before exercise

For ordinary people, they usually do not have professional sports knowledge, so they must do warm-up exercises before exercising. Warm-up exercises are not just about stretching the legs and waist. In warm-up exercises, we must move the joints, ligaments and muscles of the whole body, warm up and stretch them well, so as to avoid the Achilles tendon from suddenly bearing too much force and being unable to adapt and rupture.

7.2 Pay attention to exercise intensity

Exercise cannot be rushed, and must follow the law of gradual progress. Modern people pursue body beauty, and many people exercise excessively at one time in order to lose weight, which is very likely to cause Achilles tendon rupture. Just like the "weekend athletes" mentioned above, these people do not exercise during weekdays, but exercise for too long on weekends, and the intensity of exercise is also very high, which not only increases the risk of Achilles tendon rupture, but also the fatigue after exercise is very strong, and usually requires a long time to recover.

7.3 Protect the Achilles tendon

Currently, there is a kind of Achilles tendon protection device "Kinesiology Tape" on the market, which can protect the Achilles tendon, ligaments and joints. If patients need it, they can go to the pharmacy to buy it, read the instructions in detail or stick it on the position that needs protection under the guidance of the doctor, and then do exercise, which can protect the Achilles tendon well.

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The above is the relevant knowledge about Achilles tendon. Have you learned it?