Achilles Tendon Rupture Extra Credit
Introduction
April 12, 2013: The third quarter against the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers were trying to make a push into the playoffs. Kobe dribbled, fell, and silence broke out around the Staples Center. Kobe could not get up. He held onto his left foot with a grimace on his face. Then he got up, shot 2 free throws, hobbled off of the court to sit down.
March 14, 2010: Crushed dreams of playing in his fourth world cup in South Africa the summer. David Beckham remained standing and even passed the ball to a teammate. 2 months later was spotted walking with a crutch.
2014 NFL Season: Robert Mathis, Derrick Johnson, Mike DeVito. Three NFL players all went down within the first …show more content…
The Achilles tendon runs down the back of the lower leg and connects the tendons of the calf muscles to the heel bone. Specifically, it connects the plantaris, gastrocnemius, and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone. The tendon starts in the middle of the calf and inserts onto the middle part of the back of the calcaneus. This makes the tendon approximately 6 inches long. The Achilles tendon is the toughest and strongest tendon in the human body. The function of the Achilles tendon is to raise the heel off the ground when walking (plantar flexion of the foot) and also assists in knee flexion. The body depends on the Achilles tendon while walking, running, jumping, any time the legs have to support bodyweight. Depending on the activity, the Achilles tendon can be subject to up to 3-12 times a person’s body weight. While walking, the tendon receives a load of stress about 4 times the body weight, and 7.7 times the body weight while …show more content…
The rupture can be a complete or partial tear. This can happen when the tendon is stretched beyond its range of motion or any type of sudden eccentric stretching. Sports that involve jumping, quick pivots, or sudden bursts of running could potentially overstretch the tendon and result in a tear. The ruptures most likely occur about two inches about the calcaneal attachment since it is a zone of avascularity (having few or no blood vessels). Even though ruptures are most commonly found in the athletic population, it can also sometimes be found in the general population also. The Achilles can become thin and weak due to lack of use, which puts it more at risk for developing an injury. People with a history of tendinitis, diabetes, arthritis, and those who take certain medications are also at an increased risk of rupturing the tendon. The following includes a list of possible situations for an Achilles Tendon
Introduction
April 12, 2013: The third quarter against the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers were trying to make a push into the playoffs. Kobe dribbled, fell, and silence broke out around the Staples Center. Kobe could not get up. He held onto his left foot with a grimace on his face. Then he got up, shot 2 free throws, hobbled off of the court to sit down.
March 14, 2010: Crushed dreams of playing in his fourth world cup in South Africa the summer. David Beckham remained standing and even passed the ball to a teammate. 2 months later was spotted walking with a crutch.
2014 NFL Season: Robert Mathis, Derrick Johnson, Mike DeVito. Three NFL players all went down within the first …show more content…
The Achilles tendon runs down the back of the lower leg and connects the tendons of the calf muscles to the heel bone. Specifically, it connects the plantaris, gastrocnemius, and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone. The tendon starts in the middle of the calf and inserts onto the middle part of the back of the calcaneus. This makes the tendon approximately 6 inches long. The Achilles tendon is the toughest and strongest tendon in the human body. The function of the Achilles tendon is to raise the heel off the ground when walking (plantar flexion of the foot) and also assists in knee flexion. The body depends on the Achilles tendon while walking, running, jumping, any time the legs have to support bodyweight. Depending on the activity, the Achilles tendon can be subject to up to 3-12 times a person’s body weight. While walking, the tendon receives a load of stress about 4 times the body weight, and 7.7 times the body weight while …show more content…
The rupture can be a complete or partial tear. This can happen when the tendon is stretched beyond its range of motion or any type of sudden eccentric stretching. Sports that involve jumping, quick pivots, or sudden bursts of running could potentially overstretch the tendon and result in a tear. The ruptures most likely occur about two inches about the calcaneal attachment since it is a zone of avascularity (having few or no blood vessels). Even though ruptures are most commonly found in the athletic population, it can also sometimes be found in the general population also. The Achilles can become thin and weak due to lack of use, which puts it more at risk for developing an injury. People with a history of tendinitis, diabetes, arthritis, and those who take certain medications are also at an increased risk of rupturing the tendon. The following includes a list of possible situations for an Achilles Tendon