‘‘I’ve fully ruptured my Tendon! What’s next?’’
So you’ve fully ruptured/torn your tendon. It may have been during a competitive match, or while lifting a heavy weight, or whilst falling onto an outstretched arm. The tendon is a tissue that bridges the muscle belly, to the bone. There are several tendons that we can touch and see quite easily, such as the Achilles tendon and the patella tendon. Other tendons that are commonly injured but can’t easily be touched are the rotator cuff tendons in the shoulder, or the proximal hamstring tendon, located ‘underneath’ your glutes.
Why did I rupture my tendon?
Injury to a tendon usually occurs when too much force is applied through the tendon, compared to it’s capacity. This can be lifting a weight taht was too heavy, or a weight taht you’re used to but were particularly tired or under-recovered. Some things that put someone at high risk of a tendon injury are those who are under recovered, those working towards the upper ends of their ‘maximum performance’, and those who have injured another part of that limb, or the opposite limb
Surgical Vs Non-Surgical Management
The next big decision is whether the injury is treated non-surgically (conservatively), or surgically. This decision is made after a conversation with an Orthopaedic Consultant, and factors in the severity of the injury, your activity level, your age, and other health factors. Conservative management usually includes a period of immobilisation in a sling, cast, or brace. A roadmap is given by the Orthopaedic Specialist on when you can start physiotherapy. Surgical management includes these components also, but will have some added instructions to protect the surgical site and the sutures within the repaired tendon.
What NOT to do
Some things to avoid in rehabbing a tendon is ‘winging it’. even if you feel like the Orthopaedic Consultant’s advice may require significant periods of reduced loading, going against their advice can cause a re-rupture. If you have been advised to protect the injury win a brace or a sling, it is pertinent taht you follow that advice. This does not mean that you can’t train your non-injured limbs. Maintaining your global strength and cardiovascular fitness is hugely important for the rehab process.
Recipe for Success
Dependant on your injury severity, rehab may span form 3-12 months. It is important taht you keep this in mind, as many injuries that rehab poorly share the common theme that people reduce the compliance and intensity of their rehab once they can do everyday tasks. It is important to note that the aim of rehab isn’t to just get you back on your feet, but to make you stronger than you were at the time of the injury. Constantly striving for goals and replanning future goals with your physio is extremely important to reduce the risk of a re-injury.
If you have any questions on whether physio is the best option for you, or you have any questions about MVMNT in general, feel free to contact via email.
- Jay Towolawi, Specialist Sports Physiotherapist and MVMNT Founder.