Hello and welcome to the Zero to Finals podcast.

My name is Tom and in this episode I'm going to be talking to you about Achilles tendonopathy.

And you can find written notes on this topic at zero tofinals.com slash Achilles tendonopathy

or in the orthopedic section of the zero definals

surgery book. So let's jump straight in. The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles, specifically

the gastronymus and soleus muscles, to the heel of the foot, specifically the calcaneus bone.

Flection of the calf muscles pulls on the Achilles and causes plantar flexion of the ankle,

causing the foot to move in a downward direction.

Achilles tendonopathy involves damage, swelling, inflammation and reduced function in the Achilles tendonopathy involves damage, swelling, inflammation, and reduced function in the

Achilles tendon. There are two types of Achilles tendonopathy. Insertional tendonopathy

occurs within two centimetres of the insertion point of the Achilles on the calcaneous bone.

Mid-portion tendonopathy occurs 2 to 6 centimetres above the insertion point.

Let's talk about the risk factors.

A big risk factor is sports that stress the Achilles tendon,

for example, basketball, tennis, or track athletics.

Other risk factors are inflammatory conditions, for example, rheumatoid arthritis and

ankylosing spondylitis, diabetes, raised cholesterol, and fluoroquinoline

antibiotics, for example, syprofloxacin and levofloxacin.

The tom tip for you is worth remembering the association between fluoroquinolone antibiotics and

Achilles tendonopathy. This is a common exam question.

It's important to warn patients starting fluoroquinolone antibiotics to look out for

signs of Achilles tendonitis and stop treatment if they occur. Let's talk about the presentation.

...