| Achilles Tendor Contracture | | | | The doctor can confirm Achilles tendon contracture by |
| What causes it? | | | | interviewing the person and with a simple test: While |
| Achilles tendon contracture may be caused by an | | | | the person keeps the knee bent, the doctor flexes the |
| inherited structural problem or a muscle's response to | | | | foot upward. As the person straightens the knee, the |
| chronic poor posture, especially in women who wear | | | | tightened tendon forces the foot to point down. |
| high heels or joggers who land on the balls of their feet | | | | How is it treated? |
| instead of their heels. Other causes include diseases | | | | The doctor may use manipulation or a wedged plaster |
| that paralyze the legs, such as polio or cerebral palsy. | | | | cast to stretch the tendon. The person may be given |
| What are its symptoms? | | | | pain relievers to ease discomfort as stretching begins. |
| Sharp, spasmodic pain when the person points the | | | | Fixed footdrop may require surgery. Although cutting |
| toes toward the knee is one sign of the teflex type of | | | | can weaken the tendon, it allows stretching. After |
| Achilles tendon contracture. In this contracture, called | | | | surgery, a short leg cast will hold the foot at a right |
| footdrop, the tight foot muscle prevents placing the | | | | angle for 6 weeks. Some surgeons allow the person |
| heel on the ground. | | | | to use a walking cast after 2 weeks. |
| How is it diagnosed? | | | | |