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Achilles tendon


n.

The large tendon connecting the heel bone to the calf muscle of the leg.


 
 
Food and Fitness: Achilles tendon
Achilles' tendon
Source

A large tendon at the back of the ankle which connects the calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus) to the heel bone (calcaneus). The tendon is very susceptible to injuries. An Achilles tendon weakened by lack of exercise may rupture if the calf muscle contracts suddenly (for example, when a badminton player suddenly changes from a backward to a forward motion or when a jogger misjudges a curb and lands too far forward on his or her foot). A rupture is often accompanied by a loud crack and victims think they have been struck violently behind the heel. In extreme cases, the tendon may be completely ruptured, leaving the victim incapacitated and requiring surgery. Less severe than a complete rupture, but more common, is Achilles tendinitis. This stress injury is characterized by inflammation, pain, and tenderness in and around the tendon. It is common among runners who train over long distances on hard surfaces, and those who increase their training intensity too quickly. Women distance runners who usually wear high-heeled shoes are at particular risk because these shoes effectively shorten the Achilles tendon over a period of years. When they adopt the more flat footed position during running, their tendons are subjected to more stress than they are used to. Training shoes with high backs or hard heeltabs also increase the risk of injury.

Treatment for Achilles tendinitis usually includes rest, medication (e.g. aspirin) to reduce the swelling, and appropriate physiotherapy. A heel pad to restrict the range of movement may provide some relief. In severe cases, surgery may be required. If not treated properly, an acute inflammation of the Achilles tendon can develop into a chronic condition that is very difficult to resolve. You can reduce the risk of injuring your Achilles tendon by including an Achilles stretch in your warm-up routine (figure 1). Although this stretch may be performed freestanding, it is easier to do against a wall.

Figure 1
Figure 1

▪ Stand upright about one large pace away from the wall with your feet parallel and about hip width apart. Place your hands against the wall, at shoulder height. Move your right leg half a pace forward. Lunge forward on your right leg so that the knee is brought directly above the ankle. Stretch your left leg back as far as is comfortable with the foot remaining flat on the floor. Slowly flex your left leg to stretch the lower calf muscles and tendon. Hold the stretch for about 10 seconds, relax, and repeat on the other leg.

 

A large tendon at the back of the ankle which connects the calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus) to the heel bone (calcaneus). The tendon is very susceptible to injuries. An Achilles tendon weakened by lack of exercise may rupture if the calf muscle contracts suddenly; for example, when a badminton player suddenly changes from a backward to a forward motion or when a jogger misjudges a curb, and lands too far forward on his or her foot. A rupture is often accompanied by a loud crack and the victims often think that they have been struck violently behind the heel. In extreme cases, the tendon maybe completely ruptured, leaving the victim incapacitated and requiring surgery. Less severe than a complete rupture, but more common is Achilles tendinitis.

 
Columbia Encyclopedia: Achilles' tendon
(tendo calcaneus) (tĕn'dō kălkā'nēəs), sinew prominent at the back of the ankle, connecting the tendons of the calf muscles to the heelbone. When the musculature contracts, the pull on the Achilles' tendon elevates the heel in the springy motion essential to running and jumping. Since the effect is to lift the entire body weight against a severely adverse leverage ratio, the Achilles' tendon by necessity is the toughest and strongest of human tendons. The name derives from the mythical Greek hero Achilles, who was vulnerable only in the heel.


 
Health Dictionary: Achilles tendon
(uh-kil-eez)

A tendon connecting the heel bone with the calf muscle of the leg.

  • In Greek legend, the hero Achilles could be wounded only in the heel.

  •  
    Veterinary Dictionary: Achilles tendon

    The group of tendons that insert on the calcaneus near the point of the hock made up of the tendons of the gastrocnemius, soleus, superficial digital flexor, semitendinosus and biceps femoris muscles. Called also common calcaneal tendon. See also gastrocnemius muscle tendon.

     
    Wikipedia: Achilles tendon
    Achilles tendon
    Achilles-tendon.jpg
    Posterior view of the foot and leg, showing the Achilles tendon (tendo calcaneus). The gastrocnemius muscle is cut to expose the soleus.
    Ankle.PNG
    Lateral view of the human ankle, including the Achilles tendon
    Latin tendo calcaneus, tendo Achillis
    Gray's subject #129 483
    MeSH Achilles+tendon
    Dorlands/Elsevier t_04/12793915
    This is about vertebrate anatomy. For the metaphor of a single vulnerable spot, see Achilles' heel.

    The Achilles tendon (or occasionally Achilles’ tendon) also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendocalcaneous is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the gastrocnemius (calf) and soleus muscles to the calcaneus (heel) bone.

    Anatomy

    The Achilles tendon is the tendonous extension of three muscles in the lower leg: gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris. In humans, the tendon passes behind the ankle. It is the thickest and strongest tendon in the body. It is about 15 cm long, and begins near the middle of the leg, but receives fleshy fibers on its anterior surface, almost to its lower end. Gradually becoming contracted below, it is inserted into the middle part of the posterior surface of the calcaneus, a bursa being interposed between the tendon and the upper part of this surface. The tendon spreads out somewhat at its lower end, so that its narrowest part is about 4 cm. above its insertion. It is covered by the fascia and the integument, and stands out prominently behind the bone; the gap is filled up with areolar and adipose tissue. Along its lateral side, but superficial to it, is the small saphenous vein. The achilles' muscle reflex tests the integrity of the S1 spinal root.

    Nomenclature

    The oldest-known written record of the tendon being named for Achilles is in 1693 by the Flemish/Dutch anatomist Philip Verheyen. In his widely used text Corporis Humani Anatomia, Chapter XV, page 328, he described the tendon's location and said that it was commonly called "the cord of Achilles" ("quae vulgo dicitur chorda Achillis").

    The name Achilles' heel comes from Greek mythology. His mother, the goddess Thetis, received a prophecy of her son's death. In order to protect him, she dipped him into the River Styx, which protected his entire body from harm. However, in order to dip him into the river, she needed to grab onto his heel. During the Trojan War Achilles was struck on his unprotected heel by a poisoned arrow, which killed him.

    Because eponyms have no relationship to the subject matter anatomical eponyms are being replaced by descriptive terms. The current terminology for Achilles tendon is calcaneal tendon.

    Role in disease

    Achilles tendinitis is inflammation of the tendon, generally due to overuse of the affected limb or as part of a strain injury. More common is Achilles tendinosis, a degenerative condition with inflammation of the tendon, often accompanied by pain and swelling of the surrounding tissue and paratendon. Maffulli et al. suggested that the clinical label of tendinopathy should be given to the combination of tendon pain, swelling and impaired performance. Achilles tendon rupture is a partial or complete break in the tendon; it requires immobilisation or surgery. Xanthoma can develop in the Achilles tendon in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia.

    Treatment of Achilles tendon damage

    Initial treatment of damage to the tendon is generally nonoperative. Orthotics can produce early relief to the tendon by the correction of malalignments, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are generally to be avoided as they make the more-common tendinopathy (degenerative) injuries worse[citation needed]; though they may very occasionally be indicated for the rarer tendinitis (inflammatory) injuries. Physiotherapy by eccentric calf stretching under resistance is commonly recommended, usually in conjunction with podiatric insoles or heel cushioning. According to reports by Hakan Alfredson, M.D., and associates of clinical trials in Sweden, the pain in Achilles tendinopathy arises from the nerves associated with neovascularization and can be effectively treated with 1-4 small injections of a sclerosant. In a cross-over trial, 19 of 20 of his patients were successfully treated with this sclerotherapy.

    Where tendon rupture is concerned, there are three main types of treatment: the open and the percutaneous operative methods, and nonoperative approaches.

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    Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
    Food and Fitness. Food and Fitness: A Dictionary of Diet and Exercise. Copyright © 1997, 2003 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.  Read more
    Sports Science and Medicine. The Oxford Dictionary of Sports Science & Medicine. Copyright © Michael Kent 1998, 2006, 2007. All rights reserved.  Read more
    Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/  Read more
    Health Dictionary. The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Edited by E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Joseph F. Kett, and James Trefil. Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.  Read more
    Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
    Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Achilles tendon" Read more

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