Tendon rupture is likely to occur among the middle-aged or the elderly. Among young individuals, the muscle tissue is torn before the attached tendon is ripped. As for the elderly and those who are diagnosed with certain conditions, tendon rupture can occur.
Usual causes of tendon rupture
- Direct trauma
- Advancing age – as the body ages, the blood supply diminishes. The decrease in the blood supply to the tendon causes weakness of the tendon.
Snapping or popping that can be felt or heard. - Eccentric loading – this occurs once the muscle contracts as it is stretched in the opposite direction and there is increased stress on the affected tendon.
- Steroid injection into the tendon – this is often used for severe cases
- Medications such as quinolone antibiotics
What are the indications?
These signs and symptoms might indicate that an individual has a ruptured tendon.
- Intense pain
- Snapping or popping that can be felt or heard
- Evident weakness
- Rapid or immediate development of bruising
- Difficulty or inability to bear weight
- Inability to use the affected leg or arm
- Difficult in moving the area
- Deformity
When to seek medical attention
A doctor should be consulted if the individual felt or hear a snap or pop, has intense pain, rapid or immediate bruising and unable to use the affected leg or arm. These are clear indications of tendon rupture.
It is best to bring the individual to the emergency department if an injury occurs that triggers significant pain along with snapping or popping. Difficulty or inability to move the area, weakness, inability to bear weight and evident deformity are other indications that necessitates a trip to the nearest emergency department.
Disclaimer / More Information
The information posted on this page on tendon rupture is for learning and educational purposes only. To learn to properly deal with muscle or joint injuries including tendon rupture, register for first aid training at one of our training centers located throughout Canada. The training centers are in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Kelowna, Surrey, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax.