A sudden sharp pain in the back of the leg together with a loud “pop” followed by impossibility to walk properly - if you should get struck by a total Achilles tendon rupture, you will know.

The Achilles tendon stretches from the calf muscles at the back of the lower leg and inserts at the back of the heal. It is the most commonly ruptured tendon in the body and middle-aged male sports enthusiasts are the most likely people to suffer this injury.

How common is it?

Total Achilles tendon rupture hits between 5 and 36 persons per 100 000 inhabitants in the West every year. 90 percent of the people struck are men and in most cases the incident occurs when practising sports.