Surgery and non-surgical treatment of an Achilles tendon rupture
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
A recent study compared outcomes and recovery of calf muscle strength after the nonsurgical treatment and open surgical repair of an acute Achilles tendon rupture. At 18-month follow-up, surgical and nonsurgical treatments revealed similar results in terms of the Achilles tendon performance score. Surgery appeared to restore calf muscle strength earlier over the entire range of motion of the ankle joint, with a 10% to 18% strength difference at 18 months.
Source: American Journal of Sports Medicine, Published online June 15, 2016
Quick tips for a variety of sports- and exercise-related bone and joint injuries - Learn when those injuries could be serious and what you should do about them.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
