A recent study compared outcomes and recovery of calf muscle strength after the nonsurgical treatment and open surgical repair of an acute Achilles tendon rupture. At 18-month follow-up, surgical and nonsurgical treatments revealed similar results in terms of the Achilles tendon performance score. Surgery appeared to restore calf muscle strength earlier over the entire range of motion of the ankle joint, with a 10% to 18% strength difference at 18 months.

Source: American Journal of Sports Medicine, Published online June 15, 2016

Illustration of an Achilles tendon rupture