What is an Achilles tendon tear or rupture?
Achilles tendon rupture is a severe and disabling injury. A rupture usually takes place a couple of inches above the joining of the tendon and the heel bone. This typically occurs when someone contracts, or tightens, the calf muscle and suddenly pushes off the foot, such as in basketball or racquet sports. The injured person experiences pain, swelling, and an inability to stand on their tiptoes. The person may feel as if they were “kicked in the back of the heel.” What exactly is the ACL, and what role does it play in sports? The ACL is one of the four main ligaments in the knee and is the primary stabilizer. It’s the smallest of the four, but it serves the most important function: It stabilizes the knee for rotational movement. When you cut to change direction, that’s when the ACL comes into play. For most straightforward activities, such as jogging, the ACL isn’t involved. The most common sports in which ACL tears include soccer, basketball, football, and tennis. Back in the old days
