Aug 20 2008
A good AT doesnt rupture?
Hi all,
I saw a member of my surgeons team this week; he was very happy with the progress of my AT (phew!). He also told me that a normal, healthy AT does not rupture by itself, unless cut, kicked, etc.
I was wondering if anyone has other information on this? If he is right that means my AT was defective for some reason (lack of exercise, age). I hadnt done anything for all 2007 and was making a gentle entry into sports again when my leg blew. I’m past my best at 42 but surely i should be able to play sports at this age if Im in the right condition? Or maybe my AT’s have gone past their “sell-by” date and will just be weaker no matter what I do?
He also said the outstanding typical case for an ATR was a middle aged man, with a desk job, who played squash (or sport) once per week. I asked “and what about someone like me?” to which his deadpan-face stared me in the eye, for some reason 
This statement really gets my attention because it means that probably both my AT’s are defective and at risk during dynamic sports. I dont want an ATR in my good leg in my comeback game. One blow-out is enough.
I feel my total lack of exercise in 2007 rotted my body; I saw and felt my body age. At the time I put it down to lack of sleep but I now believe my body rotted away in that period. This gives me hope…
My hope is that the AT condition, like muscle, can be toned by sustained gradual exercise. My problem, I hope, is that my body went limp and in trying to get back into shape I did “too much, too soon”. If I had taken a more gradual increase in sport I would have strengthened the AT to the point where it would not have blown.
Does anyone have a view on this?
I am still hoping that I can build strength in my AT’s through gradual increasing exercise, to the point where it will be safe to play dynamic sports again.
What also gives me belief in this is that in my experience of intense sports when younger, players who got a serious injury (and hence didnt exercise for a long period) were likely to pick up more when they came back.
I wondered what all your views where on this concept?