Physiatrist (Physical Medicine) | Sports Medicine Questions Achilles Tendon Injuries

If I sprained my Achilles tendon, will it likely tear in the future?

I think I sprained my Achilles tendon when I was rock climbing yesterday. If it's sprained and I don't treat it the right way, is it likely that it will tear in the future?

9 Answers

Yes, your chances of re-injury go dramatically up. But your achilles tendon is not easily injured. You more than likely strained your muscle but it would be worth getting this evaluated to confirm.
Greetings! There would be a greater likelihood of tear if it doesn’t heal fully. I strongly recommend having it evaluated by a clinician.
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Achilles tendon sprains do not necessarily lead to a higher risk of subsequent Achilles tendon ruptures. The quality and integrity of the tendon is what would determine the risk for Achilles tendon rupture. Most ruptures occur in men ages 30-40, the so called “weekend warriors”. This is likely due to diminished overall fitness levels and flexibility while still trying to perform at a high level. Medications such as fluoroquinolones and injections of corticosteroid can also lead to tendon weakening and increased risk of rupture. In short, an Achilles sprain does not in and of itself lead to a higher risk of later rupture, but it may be a sign of an underlying fitness and flexibility problem which would put the patient at risk.
First of all it would be classified as a strain. A sprain involves a ligament injury. There are times where a Tendon strain could predispose you to further injury. Make sure you rehab it properly and it should be fine
Sprain depending on how bad they are is a risk factor for future injury in every tendon.
Potentially. It depends on the injury type and location.
Whether you will go on to a tear of your Achilles tendon depends on many factors including your age, severity of injury, and how it was treated and call rehabilitation program you underwent.
If you truly “sprained” or strained your Achilles without rupturing the tendon, you may have a slightlyincreased risk of injury in the future. There are Achilles injury exercises to prevent or decrease the risk of re-injury.


Mark Burt M.D.
Hi! Thank you for reaching out. While you cannot sprain your Achilles tendon, you can tear or partially tear it through overstretching or trauma. Achilles tendon injury does not automatically mean you will completely tear it in the future, however, proper treatment can contribute to recovery and prevention of future injury. It will be important to have the proper combination of stretching and strengthening exercises to ensure that the muscle and tendon tissue can still accomplish full range of motion while maintain strength to prevent tear in the future. I would encourage you to reach out to your doctor (physical therapist/athletic trainer if you know of someone) who can perform a full evaluation and give you proper instruction on what type of exercises can help accomplish these goals.
If you do have a partial tear and it is not allowed to adequately heal, then yes, you are more likely to completely rupture it.