Risk Factors

Mid-portion:

Intrinsic:

• Biochemical abnormalities (inflammatory disorders, diabetes, gout)
• Mechanical (high arch, claw foot, leg length discrepancies)

Extrinsic:

• Previous injuries
• Poor footwear
• Long-distance running on hard/sloped surfaces
• Medications (corticosteroids, quinolones, aromatase inhibitors, statins)

Insertional:

Intrinsic:

• Increased age
• Chronic inflammatory arthropathies
• Limb alignment defects

Extrinsic:

• Medications
• Inappropriate footwear
• New exercise regimens

Tendon Rupture:

• Increased age
• Pre-existing Achilles tendinopathy
• Poor vascular supply
• Medications (corticosteroids, quinolones)
• Trauma history
• Sports involving repetitive jumping/sprinting