Rupture of the Achilles tendon is a severe injury of the lower extremity, usually occurring in professional or recreational athletes on account of degenerative changes in tendons as well as resulting from permanent overload. In recent years the conservative manner of treatment with plaster casts has been replaced by the surgical treatment of the rupture with open or closed approach and by passing sutures through the skin and pulling the ruptured ends of the tendon together. Individual expert dilemmas tillremain open in the field of postoperative rehabilitation, especially when the exercising the tarsal joint and loading of the lower extremity should be initiated. In this diploma paper we used the descriptive approach by collecting, assessing and thoroughly analysing the papers and results from the field of treatment and rehabilitation of patients with a rupture of the Achilles tendon. The papers were collected from the database of domestic and foreign literature and we included our own experience in managing these types of injuries. Based on the collected data and proper statistical analysis, we responded to arguments in the objectives and hypotheses set out in this diploma paper. The results of the collected data have confirmed the correctness of early postoperative rehabilitation, exercising the joint and controlled loading of the lower extremity, which enables a fast restoration of tarsal joint flexibility and muscle strength necessary for top athletes to return to the training and competition process fast and for recreational athletes to return to their normal rhythm of daily activities. We also defined the role of a kinesiologist in the early rehabilitation process who significantly contributes with expert knowledge and specific exercises to the optimal rehabilitation of the injured person.
|