@johnhongkim: The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel bone and plays a major role in pushing off the ground, running, jumping, and standing on your toes. Classic clues of Achilles rupture -Sudden pain or a “pop” in the back of the ankle/calf -Sensation of being kicked or struck from behind -Difficulty pushing off while walking -Inability or significant difficulty standing on the toes of the affected leg -Swelling and bruising around the ankle -A palpable gap may sometimes be felt along the tendon One exam you should know: Thompson test With the patient lying prone and the foot hanging off the table, squeeze the calf. Normal Achilles → the foot plantarflexes Ruptured Achilles → plantarflexion is absent or markedly reduced Important: Some patients with a complete Achilles rupture can still walk and even plantarflex the ankle, so those findings alone do NOT rule it out. Who’s at risk? Achilles ruptures commonly occur during activities involving sudden acceleration, jumping, or changing direction, especially in recreational athletes. Other risk factors include increasing age, prior Achilles tendinopathy, corticosteroid exposure, and certain antibiotics, particularly fluoroquinolones. What happens next? Suspected rupture should be immobilized with the ankle in plantarflexion, with prompt orthopedic/sports medicine follow-up. Ultrasound or MRI can help when the diagnosis is uncertain. Treatment may be operative or nonoperative, depending on the injury and patient. Modern functional rehabilitation has made nonoperative management an important option for many patients. Clinical pearl: If someone says “I thought somebody kicked me from behind” after a sudden push-off or jump… think Achilles rupture until proven otherwise. #achillestendonrupture #medicalconditions #sportsmedcine #nurse #nursepractitioner

John Hong Kim

Open In TikTok:

Region: US

Friday 04 September 2026 19:09:39 GMT