Adam Wainwright sustained an Achilles tendon injury this past Saturday that will most likely sideline him for the rest of the season. The St. Louis Cardinal stated “I thought I got hit by something. If you look at the replay, I get out of the box and I looked back to think the catcher’s mask must of hit me or the bat must’ve hit me, something must’ve hit me.” He is scheduled to undergo an MRI today to fully evaluate the extent ohis injury.

For athletes, whether competitive or recreational, injuries to the the Achilles Tendon can not only take you out of the immediate action but could become a long term, nagging injury that never seems to be totally healed.  Along with Wainwright, other prominent athletes who have recently recovered from or are still rehabbing Achilles Tendons injuries include:

1. San Antonio Spur’s star Tony Parker has been playing the Spur’s first round playoff series against the LA Clippers with tightness in his Achilles Tendon.
2. British marathon legend Paula Radcliffe who ran in her last London Marathon after recovering from an Achilles Tendon injury that occurred in training after missing the 2012 London Olympics due to another foot-related injury.
3. Sporting Kansas City FC’s Ike Opara, part of what is considered the MLS’s best center-back partnerships, ruptured his Achilles Tendon, his second season-ending injury in as many years.
4. Former Olympic champion Liu Xiang, China’s first Gold Medalist in Olympic Track & Field, recently retired at the age of 31 due to a spate of injuries over the last few years including a ruptured Achilles Tendon that occurred while rehabbing from reconstructive surgery for another injury.

The Achilles tendon is a strong fibrous cord that connects the muscles in the back of your calf to your heel bone. If you overstretch your Achilles tendon, it can tear (rupture) completely or just partially. If your Achilles tendon ruptures, you might feel a pop or snap, followed by an immediate sharp pain in the back of your ankle and lower leg that is likely to affect your ability to walk properly. If you or someone you know is suffering from Achilles pain or sustained an Achilles tendon injury please contact our expert physicians at Country Foot Care.