Foot Pressure Mapping and Tendon Length After Nonoperative Treatment of Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture

Foot pressure mapping

Using a pressure sensitive plate, the force excerted on the floor while walking is meassured for each part of the food (such as big toe, midfoot and heel), and data is presentred in the form of peak pressure, pressure/time integral, first contact (time) and last contact (time) for each region of the foot.

Time frame: Test is performed once, 4-5 years after the initial injury

ATRA: Achilles Tendon Resting Angle

With the subject lying face down and the knee bent to 90 degrees, the angle between the longitudinal fibular axis and the axis of the 5. metatarsal is meassured in a relaxed state using a goniometer.

Time frame: Test is performed once, 4-5 years after the initial injury.

Passive plantar- and dorsiflextion

Using a goniometer, and performed with the patient lying face down, the maximal angle that the ankle can be pushed into, while the patient is relaxing is meassured, both in regard to plantar and dorsiflexion.

Time frame: Test is performed once, 4-5 years after the initial injury

circumference of the calf

With the patient sitting on the side of the bench, the circumference of the calf is meassured 13 cm below the distal part of the kneecap.

Time frame: Test is performed once, 4-5 years after the initial injury

Heel Raise Work

The total work (joules), max height of lift (mm) and number of lifts is recorded. THe patient is placed standing on one leg on a platform tilted 10 degrees (heel below toes), and is asked to lift the heel (and thereby bodyweight) as high as possible, once every 2 seconds. When the patient can no longer maintain height or pace, the test is finished.