What is the Achilles tendon?
The Achilles tendon is one of the largest and strongest tendons in the human body. It is a tough band of fibrous tissue that connects the calcaneus (heel bone) to the muscles at the back of the calf using the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. Leg muscles are known as the strongest muscles in the body because there are able to pull against the force of gravity in order to keep the body upright and in balance. The Achilles tendon is an important tendon in terms of mobility because it keeps the elastic energy required for running, jumping and walking. When an athlete tightens their calf muscles, it pulls the Achilles tendon which in turn pushes the foot down. Within the body each Achilles tendon is conditional to an athlete’s entire body weight with each movement taken. Generally depending on the speed, pace and additional weight being carried or pushed down, each Achilles tendon may be conditional to nearly three to twelve times the athlete’s body weight during a sprint. The Achilles tendon is very different from other tendons in the body. Compared to other tendons which have a covering that minimises wear and tear to the tendon by friction, the Achilles tendon contains a softer tissue that covers it. Since there is also a short blood supply to the tendon, it is highly prone to injuries and can require a long time to heal.
What is an Achilles tendon rupture?
An Achilles tendon rupture can be a partial or complete tear of the Achilles tendon hence when an athlete suffers from the injury it can come suddenly with a snapping or popping sound of the Achilles tendon separating into two pieces. The tendon rupture basically tears the fibres therefore meaning the tendon can no longer perform its normal func...
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... ranger of motion moreover physiotherapy for the athlete tendon rupture would include:
Biomechanical
Joint mobilization
Soft tissue message
Stretches
Ice and heat treatment
Prevention
There are many ways of preventing Achilles tendon rupture but some of the most basic ways include:
Getting enough stretching and warming up before participating in sports
If an athlete is participating in a seasonal sport its best to take preparatory exercises in order to build strength and endurance before the season begins.
Wear appropriate foot wear for the specific sport
Keep a healthy body weight as it decreases the amount of weight that put on the tendon and muscles
Drink plenty of water throughout a game because dehydration results in cramping and tightness of the calf muscles and tendon of which is known to increase the chances of getting injury
Snell PG, Ward R, Kandaswami C, Stohs SJ. Comparative effects of selected non-caffeinated rehydration sports drinks on short-term performance following moderate dehydration. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 7:28-36, 2010.
Achilles tendinopathy and its contributing pathologies has been a heavily researched topic throughout multiple professions. Although a unified consensus and classification on the underlying pathology is yet to be reached, a shift from the term tendinitis to tendinosis has slowly been adopted, and is now believed to follow a continuum. Previous incorrect belief of an inflammatory pathophysiology has lead to the development of treatment options that are inappropriate and unsuccessful, leaving the tendon unable to adequately heal or strengthen increasing its risk of repetitive re-injury and the development of chronic Achilles tendinopathy. As a result an understanding of the pathophysiology, its effect on lower limb function and biomechanical risk factors contributing to the development of Achilles tendinopathy need to be considered when developing a rehabilitation program to coincide with new research and to address the underlying degeneration and failed healing of the tendon.
Ankle sprains have three degrees of injury ranging from 1-3. The level of the ankle sprain is determined by the amount that the ligament is torn or stretched. A grade one sprain is categorized as a slight stretching and damage to the fibers of the ligament. A grade 2 sprain is characterized as partial tearing of the ligament and abnormal laxity of the ankle. A grade 3 sprain is characterized by complete tear of the ligament if it can be pushed or pulled in certain movements there is gross instability. The movements of the ankle are abduction, adduction, plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, and inversion, eversion. The ligaments of the ankle hold the ankle bones and joint into position. These ligaments protect the ankle joint from abnormal movements such as twisting, turning, and rolling of the foot.
All in all, injuring the ACL is a devastating blow to the knee. The ACL, which plays a major role in the support of the knee, must be protected during full-contact activities. Even simple activities such as running and jumping can lead to ACL injuries. It is important to follow the proper technique so that the body can stay healthy and continue to do what one does with it.
My name is Lakitta Beverly. I am a junior at Mississippi State University majoring in Kinesiology with a concentration in CLEP (Clinical Exercise Physiology). Throughout high school, I experienced patellar dislocation, which is the topic for today’s Technical Research Report. Patellar dislocation is an injury of the knee. Typically, it is caused by a direct blow or a sudden twist of the leg. It occurs when the patellar slips out of its normal position in the Patellofemoral groove and causes intense pain and swelling of the knee. Patellar dislocation can be characterized as objective patellar instability, potential patellar instability, and episodic patellar instability. (Cerciello, 1) Episodic patellar instability is one of the major categories
Repair after a muscle is damaged happens through the division of certain cells who then fuse to existing, undamaged muscle fibers to correct the damage. Different muscle types take different amounts of time to heal and regenerate after it has been damaged. Smooth muscle cells can regenerate with the greatest capacity due to their ability to divide and create many more cells to help out. While cardiac muscle cells hardly regenerate at all due to the lack of specialized cells that aid in repair and regeneration. In skeletal muscle, satellite cells aid in helping restoration after injury. Along with muscles, tendons are very important structures within the human body, and they to can be damaged. However, tendon repair involves fibroblast cells cross-linking collagen fibers that aid in not only reinforcing structural support, but also mechanical support as well (“Understanding Tendon Injury,” 2005). While quite different from muscle repair, tendon repair involves the similarity of reestablishing d...
Kerr (2012) states that there are 3 main types of exercise which are aerobic, strength/resistance training and flexibility exercises. Aerobic exercises will help keep the heart, lungs and muscles healthy, and when paired with a healthy diet will aid in weight loss. Appropriate resistance training will help to improve strength, posture and balance as well as causing the participant’s body to look more toned. Also the build up of muscle will aid with weight loss as at rest muscle burns more calories than inactive tissue. These exercises should be done two or three times a week. Flexibility exercises are important because if a muscle isn’t stretched then overtime it will shorten and become less elastic. Therefore joint mobility will decrease and the likelihood of injuries to muscl...
...ic to get focused in on their match, and to motivate them as well. As mentioned, most importing reason for doing a warm up is to prevent injury during competition. Warming up the muscles will prevent injuries such as hamstring tears and other types muscle strains.
When you are exhausted, you shouldn't be playing. Never play in pain and if the pain continues to return when you begin to play again after resting. Some shoes are too good for playing. If there is too much traction, your foot won't give way on fast stops, and the resulting torque on your knee can rip the ligament. Lastly, stick to a sport you love. If you think you are insecure about the sport you are in, and feel that it is too risky, then go into something that makes you feel comfortable.
In order to understand how the menisci can be injured, you must understand the basic anatomy of the menisci and why they are important. The menisci are two oval (semilunar) fibrocartilages that deepen the articular facets of the tibia and cushion any stresses placed on the knee joint. They enhance the total stability of the knee, assist in the control of normal knee motion, and provide shock absorption against compression forces between the tibia and the femur (Booher, 2000). Articular cartilage covers the ends of the bones that make up the joint. The articular cartilage surface is a tough, very slick material that allows the surfaces to slide against one another without damage to either surface. This ability of the meniscus to spread out the force on the joint surfaces as we walk is important because it protects the articular cartilage from excessive forces occurring in any one area on the joint surface, leading to degeneration over time (Sutton, 1999).
Tendon disorders and injuries comprise 30% to 50% of all activity-related injuries; chronic degenerative tendon disorders (tendinopathy) occur frequently and are difficult to treat (Vos 144). What PRP does is release the growth factor into the degenerative tendons while intentionally inflaming your muscles and tendons, to encourage healing. In an experiment conducted by Doctor Vos and his colleagues, they examined whether a PRP injection would actually improve the outcome in chronic mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy. The control group was given a placebo while the others were given the PRP injections. At the conclusio...
All muscles come in pairs, each one balanced by another that performs an opposite function. If either the hamstrings or the quadriceps become too strong, it can cause an inordinate pull on one side of the knee joint, predisposing the knee to stress and possible injury (Fox, 148)...
The human body needs water to maintain enough blood and other fluids to function properly. Along with the fluids, the body also needs electrolytes, which are salts normally found in blood, other fluids, and cells. Dehydration is a serious health problem but can be treated but coaches and athletes should try to prevent this the most by staying hydrated. One way to make sure your hydrated is the color of your urine: Clear or light-colored urine means you 're well hydrated, whereas a dark yellow or amber color usually signals dehydration. Coaches can help prevent their athletes from being dehydrated in humid conditions are by Requiring young athletes to drink plenty of fluids before practice and during regular beverage breaks even if they aren 't thirsty, Make sure clothing is light colored, lightweight and loose fitting, or exposes as much of the skin as possible, and Decrease or stop practices or competitions if necessary, or move them indoors or to a shady area. Reasons for dehydration that athletes should now and be able to prevent are Wearing clothing or protective gear that contributes to excessive heat retention,Rarely exercising ,Is overweight or obese, is sick or had a recent illness, especially involving diarrhea, vomiting or a fever,Is taking certain supplements or medications, such as cold medicine. Last if any athletes are expiriencing any feeling of dehydration symptoms are Dry or sticky mouth, Thirst ,Dizziness and excessive fatigue. f your child plays sports in hot weather, encourage him or her to drink plenty of fluids before, during and after practices and games. Teach your child the signs and symptoms of dehydration, as well as the importance of speaking up if they occur. Involve your child 's coach, too. Talk to the coach about adjusting the intensity of practice depending on the temperature and humidity on the field and support the coach 's decision to cancel games and practices
A lot of people are trying to build muscles in their body by working out. They work out by lifting heavy weights. However, when working out to building muscle, one needs to consume healthy foods and more proteins. After finishing a workout, the muscles in the body have microscopic tears to form in the fiber and connective tissues. This will cause the muscles to be tired and damaged. To repair the muscle, consume healthy foods and more protein. When one get enough foods in the body, the muscles will use the nutrients from the foods consumed and slowly rebuild, resulting in muscles in the body to increase size, strength, and muscle capacity. When I was in grade 9, I started to lift weight and I was new to it. After a few days of working out my body was experiencing any change. I realized that the reason my body was not experiencing change is because of what I was eating. I was not eating much protein and healthy foods. Later I started to eat foods that contain high protein and then I started to experience change, my muscles were getting bigger and stronger. Foods that contain high in protein can help to build muscles such as cottage cheese, chicken breast, whole eggs, canned tuna, etc. So therefore, having enough protein is the main key in order to build
Another thing exercise does to help your body is combats health conditions and diseases. Exercising, no matter what your current weight is, makes the HDL or High- Density Lipoprotein, which is the cholesterol in your body that is good, increase. Also the unhealthy triglycerides decrease when you exercise. These things help the blood run more smooth and in turn, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Exercise also helps reduce heart disease, asthma, diabetes, and many other diseases found in the body. (mayoclinic.com)