Ask the Doctor is our new column, bringing the opinion of a doctor specialized in the field about injuries that affect the NFL. Gustavo Ferrareto Pires is an orthopedic doctor, specializing in sports surgery. An American football fan, he combined his two passions to write: sport and medicine. You can follow him on Instagram at @gustavoferrareto
Less than a quarter. This is how Aaron Rodgers’ first season with the New York Jets lasted. Right at the beginning of the game, in a play in the first campaign, the Jets’ QB suffers a sack from LB Leonard Floyd and, after getting up, falls to the ground again.
Shortly after the game, head coach Robert Salleh had given discouraging news regarding the QB’s return for the season. In the following days, the player’s injury was confirmed, a complete rupture of the left Achilles tendon. Rodgers has even undergone tendon repair surgery.
The Achilles tendon or calcaneal tendon is a fibrous structure that connects the calf muscles (triceps surae) to the calcaneus bone. Together, they are responsible for plantar flexion (the movement of standing on tiptoe) of the ankle. The most common rupture mechanisms are hyperextension of the tendon, in the case of Rodgers, or sudden contraction of the calf, as when starting a run. The peak age for rupture, in both men and women, occurs between the ages of 30 and 40.
An increased frequency of Achilles tendon injuries in athletes has been observed. In 1986, the average was 2 injuries for every 100 thousand athletes, with an increase to 10 injuries for every 100 thousand athletes in 2010. This is due to athletes staying longer in their careers and the increased intensity of the game currently played. Studies show that around 24% of athletes and 50% of competitive runners already have some type of Achilles tendinopathy, which causes weakening of the tendon and can predispose to ruptures.
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2023-09-19 14:04:28
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