Golf legend Tiger Woods recently revealed that he underwent surgery after rupturing his Achilles tendon, raising questions about his ability to compete in upcoming major championships.
Woods opened up about his injury through his social media accounts but did not give any timeline of when he is expected to be fit again.
The 49-year-old American said he had a minimally invasive Achilles tendon repair for a rupture. According to an article by the Associated Press the recoveries of the most athletes following an Achilles tendon rupture take at least a month before they can even put weight on their foot.
So what is an Achilles tendon rupture and why does it takes time for athletes to recover from this injury?
The Achilles tendon (a tendon is a connective tissue that connects muscle with a bone) derives its name from Greek mythological figure Achilles. According to the myth, Achilles’ only weakness was his heel.
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The Achilles tendon are located in the back of the lower leg and are strongest, largest and thickest tendons of the human body. These tendons play a important role in walking, running and jumping and hence crucial for athletes.
An Achilles tendon tear could either be partial or a complete rupture.
According to a UT Southwestern Medical center blog, Achilles tendon rupture requires “a year or longer to fully recover, including rehab”. For non-athletes an Achilles tendon rupture can disrupt out daily functioning and they need proper medical care and therapy.
Further a research titled “Return to Play and Player Performance After Achilles Tendon Rupture in UEFA Professional Soccer Players” states that Achilles tendon rupture is a potentially career-ending injury in professional athletes. The study concluded that the injured footballers “played less and demonstrated inferior performance during the season of injury.”
Unlike a muscle, a tendon doesn’t get enough blood supply. It is blood that carries nutrients and other fluids that are essential for the healing process. Hence the recovery process is slow.
The Sportz Planet Desk,
Prakhar Sachdeo
