Kobe Bryant Achilles tendon Injury

Posted  by Dr. Brooke Austin

Kobe Bryant's Achilles heel is his actual Achilles heel. Late in the Lakers' game against the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Lakers guard suffered the worst injury of his career, one that could have franchise-changing repercussions. 

 

Friday night at the Staples Center, with just three minutes left in the game's final quarter, Bryant collapsed on the floor after being fouled by the Warriors' Harrison Barnes. After making his two free throws, which ended up accounting for the game's margin of victory in the 118-116 win, Bryant left the game already aware that his season was most likely over.

An MRI on Saturday confirmed what Bryant and the Lakers' trainers already suspected: Bryant tore his Achilles tendon, an injury that required surgery that will sideline Bryant for at least the next 6-9 months. So not only is Bryant out for the season, this could potentially threaten the 34 year old future Hall of Famer's career, or at least his career with the Lakers.

 

The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the human body. It is located at the back of the ankle joint and can be felt as a large, cord-like structure attaching to the back of the foot. Since tendons serve to attach muscles to bone, the Achilles tendon also attaches the large calf muscles, the gastrocnemius and soleus, to the back of the heel bone, the calcaneus.

The muscle mass and strength of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles are greater than all of the other muscles of the lower leg combined. Therefore, the pull of these muscles on the Achilles tendon is very large since these muscles help balance the body while standing, push the body forward during walking, spring the body forward during running, and spring the body upward during jumping. Because of the large amount of stress which the Achilles tendon is subjected to during running and jumping activities, the Achilles tendon is prone to injury.

The most common form of injury to the Achilles tendon is called Achilles tendonitis, which is an inflammatory condition causing pain in the Achilles tendon. Achilles tendonitis generally occurs in people who are active in sports activities. Types of sports that commonly are associated with Achilles tendonitis are basketball, tennis, running, football, soccer, volleyball and other running and jumping sports.

Achilles tendonitis tends to occur more frequently in older athletes than in younger athletes. As a person ages into their thirties and especially into their forties and fifties, the ligaments and tendons of the body tend to lose some of their stretchiness and are not as strong as before. This predisposes older individuals who are active in running and jumping activities, to tendon injuries such as Achilles tendinitis. However, Achilles tendonitis can also occur in teenagers who are very active in running and jumping sports.

 

 

If you suspect you may have an Achilles tendon injury please call today for a complete evaluation. We have in-office x-ray and ultrasound for prompt diagnosis and treatment.

 

Call 239-566-8800 for your appointment today.