This NFL season is turning out to be a groundbreaking one for the wrong reason — a record 15 NFL players have ruptured their achilles tendons this year and we are barely over half way through the season. These figures are according to an article on philly.com and include preseason injuries too. Week 8 of the season had three players rupturing their achilles tendons, which is extremely unusual. In most NFL seasons, an average 7 players rupture their achilles tendons. This year, we could see 25 players suffering from this nasty injury if this current pace continues.
According to a study from 2009, 32 percent of NFL players who suffered from an achilles tendon injury between 1997 and 2002 subsequently never returned to play. Moreover, those who did return to play suffered a major decline in power ratings.
Make sure to also read my post on achilles tendon ruptures in the NBA. It now makes sense to me that there is significant undercounting going on in the NBA, although one should also note that NBA team rosters (around 15 players per team) are a lot smaller than NFL team rosters (around 53 players per team).
A new study conducted by researchers from Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine and the Rothman Institute of Jefferson Medical College discussed two important issues based on past findings by other researchers:
Around 25 percent of achilles tendon ruptures are missed during initial inspection and consultation.
Conservative treatment is usually sufficient to treat acute achilles tendon ruptures. In younger athletes, surgery usually leads to slightly better outcomes with fewer instances of re-rupture. However, for most people, non-surgical treatment is sufficient and leads to favorable results.
It seems like there has been a surge in professional athletes in American sports rupturing their achilles tendon this year. The latest is NFL team Houston Texans’ 29 year old running back Arian Foster. Mr. Foster ruptured his achilles tendon while making a sharp cut during a football game against the Miami Dolphins. He has been plagued by numerous injuries throughout his footballing career and it remains to be see if he will return to the NFL next season.