The Achilles tendon joins the calf muscles to the heel bone. It is the largest tendon in the body, and it lets you push off when you walk, run and jump.
A rupture usually happens during a sudden push-off or landing, often in stop-start sports such as squash, tennis, badminton or soccer. It is most common in people aged 30 to 50 who play sport occasionally. Many describe feeling as if they had been kicked or hit on the back of the heel, sometimes with an audible snap.
The diagnosis is usually made on examination. An ultrasound or MRI scan may be used to confirm it and measure the gap between the tendon ends. Early assessment matters, because treatment is simplest in the first days after the injury.
There are two accepted approaches. The choice depends on your activity level, your general health, the gap between the tendon ends and how long ago the injury happened.
Dr P. Reddy.