A study published in the April 2013 issue of Foot & Ankle International found that male athletes were the group most likely to tear their Achilles tendon.
While Kobe Bryant might have the most famous Achilles tendon in recent memory, the study examined 406 Achilles injuries over a ten-year period from 2000-2010. Dr. Steven Raikin, Dr. David Garras, and Dr. Phillip Krapchev analyzed the injuries and demographics of their patients in order to produce the following findings.
- The average age of a patient with an Achilles tear was 46 years old.
- 83% of the patients were males.
- 68% of the ruptures were sports related.
- Basketball was the most common sport for injury (32%), followed by tennis (9%), and football (8%).
- Of the patients younger than 55 years old, 77% of the injuries were sports related, compared to 42% for patients 55 or older.
- Older patients whose body-mass index was above 30 were more likely to have a non-sports injury.
- Over 33% of the Achilles injuries not caused by sports occurred at work.
Researchers also found that if the Achilles injury was improperly diagnosed, it was most often classified as an ankle sprain.
Dr. Raikin said patients in their 40’s and 50’s need to be cautious when participating in sporting activities. He also recommended they seek out a specialist if they believe they might have an Achilles injury.
“Older individuals, and those with a higher BMI, should be evaluated carefully if they have lower leg pain or swelling in the Achilles tendon region,” said Raikin.
Another important finding in the study related to the percentage of re-rupture after the initial injury. Researchers found that 5% of the group suffered a re-rupture of the same tendon. While that may not seem significant, it was reported that 85% of those individuals had neglected to under surgery to address their Achilles after the first injury.
Dr. Silverman comments
As I mentioned in the Kobe Bryant piece, over a period of time your Achilles tendons undergo what is known as “silent degeneration”. Over the course of your life, normal tendon fibers slowly and painlessly tear. It can be more aggressive in athletes, especially basketball players who rely on quick turns, twists and cuts. It is not surprising that basketball was the leading sport for Achilles injuries.
What is interesting is the fact that 85% of individuals who suffered a re-rupture did not undergo a surgical operation after the initial injury. When it comes to a tendon like your Achilles, you are almost always better off having a specialist repair it surgically. You may think you’re saving money by neglecting to undergo an operation, but it could be more costly, and more painful, if you have to relive the injury a second time. Improper healing of the Achilles tendon leads to weakness in push off and abnormal gait.
Related source: News-Medical.net