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October 9, 2005
Achilles Injury Very Serious
A tear to the Achilles tendon is the just about the worst possible injury an athlete can have. Recovery time is long, rehab is extensive, and a complete recovery is rare.
The body's longest tendon, connecting the calf muscle to the heel bone, the Achilles is a thick band of tissue that is the key to the foot's ability to flex but is particularly vulnerable to injury. Once injured, it can take 12 months to mend correctly.
Often the outcome of a stop-and-go, backward-to-forward or lateral motion, an Achilles tendon tear can also happen by merely walking up a flight of stairs. Still, the nature of the injury is one of the more serious in all of sports.
For elite-level athletes, most experts recommend surgery to repair the tendon, but primarily rest is the key to mending. That could mean staying on crutches for up to three months. Other treatments include massage, strengthening exercises and anti-inflammatory medication.
Posted by linda at October 9, 2005 10:50 AM
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