Definition

as with the majority of muscle and tendon strains it usually occurs at the the place were muscle joins to tendon or in the case of Achilles Tendon strain at the place were the achilles tendon joins to the bone of the foot. If you are not familiar with what a strain is or what the 3 different grades of strain are please see STRAINS
So the most likely place you will get an achilles tendon strain would be either were the tendon joins to the bone or were the achilles tendon joins to the muscle of the lower leg.

Parts involved

• achilles tendon

• calcaneus ( heel bone)

• muscles attached to the achilles tendon

• any soft tissue that surrounds the strained tendon

Signs & Symptoms

• muscle spasm in the calf muscles

• pain when flexion or extension of the foot tried

• tenderness and pain when the achilles tendon is palpated

• noticeable swelling in the area of the achilles tendon

• if the strain is grade 2 or 3 will be loss of strength

• crepitation felt apon palpation of the achilles tendon

• abnormal Thompson test, the foot does not flex when a squeezing pressure is applied to the calf muscles.

Causes

• overuse of the calf muscles and tendon for prolonged periods

• single traumatic event, such as sprinting or severe overstrecting cause y akward fall etc.

Ways to prevent

• Create a flexibility and strengthening program based on the activity you plan on doing

• stretching of the achilles tendon before activity

It is important with any strain injury to seek out medical advice as these injuries can start off as a grade 1 and quickly progress unnoticed into a grade 2 or even worse a comlete rupture of the muscles a grade 3! A grade 1 is easily treated with R.I.C.E. but grade 2 and 3 require cinsiderable healing time and stopage of the activity that caused the strain in the first place. So air on the side of caution in the case of a potential strain.

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