Achilles Tendon Strain

[hoodjem]

About six weeks when going for a forehand, I overextended my left achilles tendon.

I was playing on a 'city court' which had some cracks on it. Over on the deuce side just behind the baseline were some small anthills in one of those cracks.

My opponent hits a nice cross-court forehand to my right (we're both right-handed), so I go running. Just as I am about to hit the ball I step with my left foot on one of those anthills, and my foot just keeps sliding and sliding instead of planting. Well, I may have just sat down on the court.

No, I didn't pop or sever the achilles tendon, but I sure did stretch it and strain it. It swelled up like a golf ball that night for a day or two.

Now the swelling is gone, but the injury just won't go away. There is a sizeable knot on my tendon. I wouldn't say it is greatly painful, but after hitting the next day my left ankle is tender and slightly painful.
I've been to see a doctor, and he recommended a physical therapist. She used massage, and ultrasound, and had my doing stretching and strengthening exercises. These have helped--it does seem stronger but the injury will just not go away.

A lot of tennis is pushing off hard and then rushing for the ball, and I just can't do this.

Have you ever messed up your achilles tendon? What would you do?

 

[Rickson]

An achilles injury can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months for proper healing. I recommend you wrap up your foot for now and ice it down anytime it swells. Don't try to make a comeback right away as you can aggravate the injury. Try glucosamine/chondroitin and calcium tablets as well.

 

[Josherer]

My achilles tendon took 11 months to heal completly...

It was a severe ase though.

GL

 

[netman]

Tendons can take a long time to heal because they lack the blood supply muscles enjoy. Give it time to heal. Trust me, you never want to snap an Achilles tendon. The initial pain is beyond your wildest imagination. The recovery time after surgery is 4-5 months. And you will never have the explosiveness and quickness after an Achilles tear you had before. The calf muscle affected will lose mass and never recover.

Good news is modern surgical techniques can repair a torn Achilles and get you back in the game. Bad news is the hit to performance is irreversable. So its best to not tear it in the first place.

 

[Spartan]

Good news is modern surgical techniques can repair a torn Achilles and get you back in the game. Bad news is the hit to performance is irreversable. So its best to not tear it in the first place.

Do you know any good exercises or strategies to prevent a tear or rupture? If so, please be specific.

Thanks.

 

[hoodjem]

Thanks, I am going to try some orthotic inserts.

 

[NoBadMojo]

Thanks, I am going to try some orthotic inserts.

that's what i use after having chronic achilles tendonitis for a period of years. it's the one thing that allowed me to get back on court and to not be troubled w. this problem. i dont think i would be able to play tennis w.o them. i also had firm heel lifts built into them in order to prevent my achilles from hyper exptending on that axis. i would recommend custom made sports orthotics. depending upon how off your foot strike is, the orthotics could take some serious adjustment time. would suggest wearing them first just to walk around in, then gradually introduce them to tennis. good luck

 

[larry10s]

do not wish to depress you but i had bad achilles tendinitis ,was a runner then (6-8miles 4-5 times a week) could not run for close to a year. started tennis lessons to be outdoors and to at least learn proper stroke technique good news is i can run 6 miles now play tennis all day with no pain i have orthotics and heel lifts and did alot of calf stretching and strengthening under the supervision of a physical therapist and orthopedist. would recommend you work with professionals and take it REAL easy on the comeback, these injuries are not 2-4 week recoveries.when i had tennis elbow and could not play (but could run) i watched videos of tennis and read about tennis strokes, strategy ,etc to keep my head in tennis via online websites. the visualization seemed to be beneficial as when i started up again it was not like i completely left the game. good luck

 

[netman]

Do you know any good exercises or strategies to prevent a tear or rupture? If so, please be specific.

Thanks.

Almost all Achilles tears are from cumulative damage acquired over years of overuse. That's why you hear so many stories about someone's Achilles snapping while they were just walking or doing some other innocuous activity. I had no symptoms the day mine tore.

You can work on stretching your calf. Flexibility is always a good thing. But remember that the main job of ligaments and tendons is to serve as structural support and to arrest the range of movement in joints and muscles. You don't want them too loose or you risk other problems.

The Achilles is under tremendous tension, which is what gives you the ability to jump, hop and leap. It is one tough piece of tissue. Main thing is to allow it time to heal if you have any pain. A predominant theory on why it tears is that years of micro-tears and healing builds up scar tissue in a location until you end up with a non-flexible spot that tears under severe stress.

I agree with NBMJ that custom orthotics are a great solution to protecting your feet and calves. Helps the low back as well.

-k-

 

[boringmember]

Yeah, mine has been sore since doing a marathon and I haven't been able to run since. Don't try to rush back, or else you will feel it . Make sure to stretch out as well.

 

[Spartan]

Almost all Achilles tears are from cumulative damage acquired over years of overuse. That's why you hear so many stories about someone's Achilles snapping while they were just walking or doing some other innocuous activity. I had no symptoms the day mine tore.

You can work on stretching your calf. Flexibility is always a good thing. But remember that the main job of ligaments and tendons is to serve as structural support and to arrest the range of movement in joints and muscles. You don't want them too loose or you risk other problems.

The Achilles is under tremendous tension, which is what gives you the ability to jump, hop and leap. It is one tough piece of tissue. Main thing is to allow it time to heal if you have any pain. A predominant theory on why it tears is that years of micro-tears and healing builds up scar tissue in a location until you end up with a non-flexible spot that tears under severe stress.

I agree with NBMJ that custom orthotics are a great solution to protecting your feet and calves. Helps the low back as well.

-k-

Thanks for the reply. I had a feeling it wouldn't be an "easy" solution.