Tendonitis is a very common injury in the sports world. As a matter of fact, 50% of all sports injuries are tendon related, (Abat). Tendons connect muscles to bone, allowing joint movement, and they are a vital part of athleticism.
Tendonitis is defined as the inflammation of a tendon, usually from overuse, but it can also develop from infection or rheumatic disease. The most common tendon injury is the rupture of the achilles tendon, the tendon that connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. This injury is normally an overuse injury, an injury due to repetitive stress. Achilles tears can be devastating; 44 National Basketball Association(NBA) players have torn their achilles tendon, and only two players have returned to be anywhere near as effective as they were before injury. The tear of an achilles can affect the athleticism, movement, and comfort of an athlete.
Achilles tears can be treated surgically or nonsurgically. Nonsurgical treatment starts with the immobilization of the leg. A cast is placed on the leg and the patient will utilize crutches to move. This process could take up to six months. Podiatrists and orthopedic surgeons perform achilles tendon surgery. Surgery can last up to two hours. There are four types of achilles surgery. The main type is gastrocnemius recession. In gastrocnemius recession surgery, an orthopedic surgeon makes a cut in the skin on the inner side of the leg over the calf muscle. The surgeon then inserts a retractor between the gastrocnemius muscle and the soleus muscle. The retractor creates a working channel between these muscles which allows access to the fascia of the gastrocnemius. The fascia is then cut, allowing the muscle to relax and lengthen. After surgery, physical therapy is required in order to fully heal the tendon. Physical therapy treatment mainly consists of stretches and strengthening techniques that regain strength and mobility lost during the injury.
References
Abat, F., Alfredson, H., Cucchiarini, M. et al. Current trends in tendinopathy: consensus of the ESSKA basic science committee. Part I: biology, biomechanics, anatomy and an exercise-based approach. J EXP ORTOP 4, 18 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40634-017-0092-6
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