A tendon rupture most often affects the lower limbs - especially the strongest of all tendons - the Achilles tendon. Find out what are the causes and symptoms of a tendon rupture. How is this type of injury treated? Is surgery always necessary? What does rehabilitation look like in the event of a tendon rupture?
A tendon ruptureis a complete rupture of the tendon fibers connecting the muscle with the bone. The most common diagnosis isAchilles tendon ruptureorknee tendon rupture , less oftenfinger tendon rupture .
Tendon rupture - causes
The cause of a tendon rupture is too much force on that part of the body. A tendon rupture can occur either as a result of indirect injury or as a result of direct trauma. In the first case, the injury may occur during a sudden contraction of the tendon, e.g. during a jump or a sudden start to run. It involves taking up physical activity without proper training and prior preparation. Men over 40 often complain of problems with tendons, because at this age the vascularization of the tendons deteriorates and numerous degenerative changes can be diagnosed.
Direct injuries are caused by a sudden blow to a tense tendon, such as a kick. A tendon rupture can also be caused by pathological changes, e.g. tendinitis.
Tendon rupture - symptoms
- a distinctive click or crunch that is a sign of a tendon rupture
- sudden and severe pain that increases with movement (but can also occur at rest)
- swelling of an inflamed tendon with bleeding under the skin
- palpable break in the tendon
- total immobilization of the injured place
The injury may be accompanied by damage to other structures, e.g. articular cartilage, ligaments inside and around joints (this is the case of a tendon rupture in the knee).
Tendon rupture - treatment and rehabilitation
This type of injury requires immediate medical attention. The basic examination in the case of tendon injury is ultrasound, which allows you to clearly identify the type and place of damage and an X-ray (X-ray). In the event of a complete rupture of the tendonit is necessary to perform a surgical procedure aimed at sewing the fibers together. Then the limb is immobilized in a plaster for about 6 weeks. At a later stage of treatment, active and passive exercises and physical therapy (e.g. magnetic field, laser therapy) are used. Rehabilitation usually takes 4-6 weeks.