I tore my Achilles by playing soccer. In the second half, about 70 minutes in, I took off on a sprint down the field and it just went POP. It was loud (or sure seemed like it) and I crumpled over to the ground. There was pain, yes, but it was a rather dull pain and maybe not even as bad as most badly-sprained ankles.
No one was really near me and my first fear was indeed a torn Achilles. I’ve heard about the "POP" stories, just in general, and that it’s not good. I’ve sprained both of my ankles since I was in junior high 100 times and every which way. Basketball, stepping off a curb, running and hitting a hole in the ground, hiking, you name it. I knew it was not another ankle sprain, only how I wish it were!
I’ve played soccer on-and-off (mostly off) since I was a youth and have been trying to make a more focused effort in the last year or two to join a team and make a go of it year-round. This is lower-ish levels, men’s recreational league and specifically an over-30 league. In HS, I played football, basketball and ran track. I stayed rather active since then and but have had stints of both high and lower activity. My weight has ranged anywhere from 185 to 220 over a 12 year span.
Regarding a torn Achilles, I had always heard that aside from the "POP", you would also see your Achilles tendon roll up to your calf and create a bulge. I did not have this and therefore, I was hoping that it wasn’t torn. Wrong!
On my physical activity and health right before the injury:
Both Doctors I visited and many things I’ve read basically said an ATR is a freak injury. That most males out playing hoops, soccer, tennis, etc. over the age of 30 are susceptible to it happening at any given time. And even regardless of how good of shape you’re in.
I was still working on getting into soccer shape, which is a lot of sprinting, bursts, change of direction, etc. Carrying extra weight (212 lbs, 6ft tall) it was even tougher. Though I have always been able to go out for (and enjoy) a 3-6 mile jog, this is a completely different form of exercise. Furthermore, coming out of the winter I was not in the best of shape.
The few weeks before the injury itself, I had hit the gym hard M-Th, getting in great weight workouts, knowing that my Friday soccer game and a weekend jog would be my main cardio for the week. I focused on full-body workouts and really got after it, weights, resistance, core, legs and some Olympic lifting.
The night of the injury and during the game, I had banged my left knee against the goalkeeper early on. It was soooore as can be, but it was ok. I had limited movement from the soreness, but I could run. After scoring a goal (woo!) and later in the game is when the ATR occurred. I can’t help but wonder if I wasn’t favoring my left leg/knee so much while running that I wouldn’t have put the extra amount of strain on my right leg, thus resulting my tearing my right Achilles. Also, since I was winded, beat and had a sore left leg, I did not do too much real stretching at halftime. I wonder if I had done some rudimentary Achilles stretching at the half, would it have helped prevent this?
I drove myself home on my bad right leg. It hurt like hell and was mildly-swollen, again not quite as bad as some bad ankle sprains. Obviously I couldn’t move my foot up and down for the pedal or walking and instead used my heel and leg pressure.
Ended up being quite long, apologies. Stay tuned for adventures in ATR with no insurance!
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