What is an ATR?
The Achilles tendon is a large ropelike band of fibrous tissue in the back of the ankle linking the calf muscles to the heel bone. It is the largest tendon in the human body. When the calf muscles contract, the Achilles tendon is tightened, pulling the heel. This allows you to point your foot and stand on tiptoe.
It is vital to such activities as walking, running and jumping. A complete tear through the tendon, which usually occurs about 2 inches above the heel bone, is called an Achilles tendon rupture.
Achilles tendon rupture
This diagram pretty graphically shows what has happened inside my right leg.
The funny thing about the injury is that after the initial rupture, there isn’t actually a lot of pain.
