A torn Achilles tendon typically shows a visible dip or gap in the back of the lower leg, about two to three inches above the heel bone. The area swells rapidly, bruising often spreads across the ankle and foot, and the injured leg looks noticeably different from the healthy one. Whether you’re checking your own leg or wondering about someone else’s injury, the signs are surprisingly distinct once you know what to look for.
The Gap You Can See and Feel
The most telling sign of a complete Achilles rupture is a palpable gap in the tendon itself. The Achilles is the thick cord running down the back of your lower leg into your heel, and when it snaps, the two ends pull apart. This leaves a divot or indent you can feel (and sometimes see) about 4 to 6 centimeters above where the tendon attaches to the heel bone. That specific zone has a relatively poor blood supply, which is exactly why it’s the most common spot for a tear.
In a fresh injury, the gap may be partially masked by swelling. But if you gently run your fingers along the back of the lower leg, you’ll feel a soft spot where the tendon should be taut. On a lean person with less swelling, the indent can be visible to the naked eye, creating a clear disruption in the normally smooth contour of the calf-to-heel line.
Swelling, Bruising, and Skin Changes
Swelling sets in quickly after a rupture. The entire lower leg and ankle puff up, sometimes dramatically within the first hour. This swelling can obscure the gap described above, which is one reason some people initially mistake a rupture for a bad sprain.
Bruising follows, though it doesn’t always appear right away. Discoloration typically shows up within 24 to 48 hours as blood from the torn tissue spreads under the skin. You may see purple, blue, or dark red patches along the back of the ankle, the sides of the foot, and sometimes down toward the sole. The shin can bruise too. Over the following days, the bruising migrates and shifts color through the usual yellow-green spectrum as the body reabsorbs it.
How the Foot Behaves Differently
Beyond what the injury looks like on the surface, how the foot moves (or fails to move) is a major visual clue. With a complete tear, you lose the ability to push up onto your toes on the injured side. If you try to stand on tiptoe with just that foot, the heel stays on the ground. The foot may also rest in a flatter position than the uninjured side when you’re lying face down, because the calf muscle is no longer pulling the foot into its normal slight downward point.
Doctors use a simple bedside check called the Thompson test to confirm this. You lie face down while someone squeezes your calf muscle firmly. On a healthy leg, that squeeze pulls the Achilles tendon, and the foot moves downward. If the tendon is torn, squeezing the calf produces no foot movement at all. That absence of motion is one of the most reliable physical signs of a complete rupture.
Partial Tears vs. Complete Ruptures
Not every Achilles injury looks the same, and the difference between a partial tear and a complete rupture matters. A partial tear is like a frayed rope: some fibers are damaged, but the tendon is still in one piece. You’ll have pain and swelling, but the gap is usually absent or much less pronounced. You can still push off your toes to some degree, though it hurts. The bruising and swelling tend to be milder.
A complete rupture severs all fibers. The two ends of the tendon retract away from each other, leaving that characteristic gap. You lose meaningful push-off strength, and the injury often announces itself with a loud pop or snap at the moment it happens, sometimes described as feeling like being kicked in the back of the leg. If you can still rise onto your toes (even painfully), you’re more likely dealing with a partial tear.
What Imaging Reveals
If there’s any doubt about how severe the tear is, ultrasound or MRI can show exactly what’s going on inside. On ultrasound, a torn Achilles shows a dark gap between disrupted tendon fibers. In a complete tear, the two ends of the tendon are visibly separated, and the gap widens when the foot is flexed upward. Sometimes the fatty tissue that normally sits behind the tendon herniates into the gap, which is another confirmation of a full-thickness rupture.
MRI provides even more detail. A complete tear appears as a fluid-filled space at the injury site, with the tendon fibers either pulled apart or bunched up on themselves. A partial tear looks more heterogeneous, with a mix of intact and disrupted fibers rather than a clean separation. These imaging findings help guide whether treatment involves surgery or a structured bracing and rehabilitation program.
Who Gets These Injuries
Achilles ruptures are not rare. Data from over 18,000 repairs in the United States between 2015 and 2024 shows the rate has been climbing, reaching about 7.3 repairs per 100,000 patients in 2024. Men between 25 and 29 have the highest rate at roughly 61 per 100,000, often during sports that involve sudden acceleration or jumping. Women peak later, between ages 45 and 49, at about 23 per 100,000. The typical scenario is a weekend athlete pushing off hard during basketball, tennis, or soccer, though it can happen during any explosive movement.
What the First Few Days Look Like
In the immediate aftermath, the back of the leg is swollen, tender, and difficult to walk on. Most people can’t bear weight normally and end up limping or using the other leg entirely. By the second or third day, bruising is usually well established, and the swelling peaks. Ice and elevation help reduce the swelling within a few days, but the leg continues to look puffy and discolored for a week or more.
One visual detail that catches people off guard: the calf muscle on the injured side may look bunched up or higher than normal. Without the tendon anchoring it to the heel, the muscle retracts upward, creating an asymmetry between the two legs that’s easy to spot when standing in front of a mirror. This “riding up” of the calf is another hallmark of a complete rupture and one more reason the injured leg simply looks wrong compared to the other side.